By Abdoulie John
Four years after December 30th attackers fell on the field of honour, a proper burial has been given Friday to retired Captain Njaga Jagne of the US Army, Lieutenant Colonel Lamin Sanneh of the Gambia Armed Forces and Sergeant Alagie Nyass of the defunct Gendarmerie. Their remains have finally been laid to rest at the Kanifing South cemetery, some 7 km away from Banjul.
Imam Sawanneh of Kanfing Estate Mosque lauded the December 30th attackers for their sacrifice to end dictatorship in the country.
A group of men took the resolution on December 30th, 2014 to liberate Gambians from two decades of autocratic rule by the Jammeh regime. Forces loyal to ex-Gambian dictator killed the trio as they launched attack on the Presidential palace. Their bodies were secretly buried in the Fonis before being unearthed in March 2017 by forensic experts from the Police.
In his sermon, Imam Sawanneh commended the attackers for playing a big part in the change Gambians are enjoying today.
Cherno Njie, who was part of the men that initiated the December 30th attack, reminded Gambians on the need to recognise the ultimate price paid by the trio. He then added that many people such as Ebrima Solo Sandeng and Deyda Hydara sacrificed their life for democracy to triumph over tyranny.
He called on government to make sure that those who have been “disappeared” by the former regime are found and offered a fitting burial.
Speaking to this medium, Vice-President Ousainou Darboe reiterated government’s commitment to standing by families of those killed.
He called on those who have knowledge about where journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh and United Democratic Party activist Kanyiba Kanyi have been buried to come forward.
The former Interim Chairman of the Peoples’ Progressive Omar Amadou Jallow, who also spoke to this medium, said these men deserve to be elevated to dignity of national heroes.
Mr. Jallow said they were killed for standing up against the repressive regime of Yahya Jammeh.
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