By Abdoulie John
Police in The Gambia arrested last weekend ten officers of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) with possible links to the murder of the former United Democratic Party (UDP) activist Ebrima Solo Sandeng.
Police spokesperson David Kujabi confirmed to this reporter that two of them were released on bail while the remaining eight are still in detention and are helping the police in their investigation.
The late Organising Secretary of the United Democratic Party spearheaded a protest march on April 14, 2016, demanding ‘proper electoral reforms.’ The peaceful demonstration was met by a full-scale police crackdown that led to the arrest of dozens of UDP supporters, torture and subsequent death of Ebrima Solo Sandeng. Nine top officers of the defunct National Intelligence Agency are standing trial for the murder of Mr. Sandeng.
When asked whether the police have already pressed charges against the latest batch of arrestees, David Kujabi declined to shed more light, insisting that investigations into the case are still ongoing.
The West African nation is struggling to recover from 22 years of Jammeh dictatorship which culminated in gross violations of human rights. The Barrow administration has been pushing ahead with the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission. However, families of the victims of Jammeh brutality have drummed up demand for justice.
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