In remembrance of Gambia’s fallen men. Listen to What happened
By Bamba Mass UK (A Brother to the martyrs!)
In Uniform LATE Lt. BASIRU BARROW AND CO and Civilians Ousman Koro
Ceesay, Uncle Dayda Hydara etc. who were true brave sons of our Land. These
dynamic men were defenselessly executed by brutal savages, Sana Sabally and
co and Musa Jammeh, Tumbul Tamba and co. as they tried to save us all from
the yokes of forced labour and constant fears!
These are some chilling true accounts of the 11th November 1994 alleged coup
in the tiny State of the Gambia and Its aftermath that led to the death of 11
students, a former finance minister, great true journalist and many more. All died
because they love their country Gambia ! May their souls rest in peace Amen!
Compiled with some observations!
The military junta now turned civilians led by former Chairman now Sheikh professor/Doctor Yahya Jammeh have
indeed a case to answer to how these men died because revelations have surfaced that revealed” gruesome crimes
against Humanity that can never be swept under the carpet. If those criminals who have committed these crimes can
still walk our streets as if they have slaughtered a mere cattle for Tobaski, then they must have a strong backing
otherwise they would have been brought before a court of law by now.
To begin with, as were commemorate the unfaithful killings of our brothers in uniform doubts and uncertainty had
gripped the nation and bereaved families regarding what actually happened on the November 11 alleged coup and all
subsequent alleged coups where Men in Uniform were summarily executed. The government of Yahya Jammeh has
always been trying to bury the killings of those dedicated brave and gallant officers, whose only aim was to save us all
from their comrades’ betrayals of the reason they all united in overthrowing the Jawara regime. They had all agreed
to overthrow Jawara and lead the nation into a transition for two years and organise elections with no man
in uniform participating and handing to a civilian government just like Amadou T. Touray had done in the
Republic of Mali .
But the moment their trusted chosen leaders tested power, they started to divide and rule thus creating chaos within
the Army. Jammeh’s administration could have been champions in the world but greed and hunger for power had led
them to destroy themselves for ever. Thus when they butchered their fellow comrades with savage brutality,
the military turned civilian regime added insult to injury by trying to bury those gruesome and barbaric
killings under the carpet, giving little or no vital information provided to the bereaved families and the
Gambian public at large.
These are what we gathered on what happened that led to the 11th November alleged coup and all other subsequent
alledged coups since AFPRC came to power on July 22nd 1994.
On that faithful Friday morning, Satanic blood thirsty minded men led by Sana Biro Sabally, Edward Singhateh,
Sadibu Hydara Yankuba Touray Lamin Kaba Badjo and others while Baboucarr Jatta Looks on , they started
shedding Gambian Blood and as if that was not enough, started burying some alive and others in an old pit latrine at
various locations ranging from Yundum Barracks to Nyambai Forest. Sana Sabally was on air bragging himself as a
hero that saved the Nation as if he was already the Head of State openly lying to the Nation that there was an alledged
coup and three of the coupist had died in a shootout while they resisted arrest as they battled with loyal soldiers. Little
did we know he had his filthy hands soiled with defenceless Gambian blood, the worst crime against Humanity. It was
the same sentiment later shared by his boss then self promoted Captain Yahya Jammeh in that same evening though
he was not present at the execution grounds. He said they regretted their deaths but I wondered if so, then why he had
not investigated what really happened.
16 years today Gambians and other truth finders have been asking questions from eye witnesses and others who were
once or are still close to the corridors of power in an effort to compile evidence as to the real truth that led those
alleged arrests and summary executions in our dear Smiling Coast. “A Coast that smiles no more”. We have gathered
that the alleged coupist were arrested even before staging a coup and summarily executed in cold blood. Those most
feared to have been any threat to the junta were being arranged for execution the next day. Now the same Sana who
Jammeh accused of the same crime had him tried and sentenced accordingly. I learnt he is now calling for reconciliation
without putting the records straight so that families of the diceased would know what happened to their fathers,
husbands , uncles ,brothers, sons nephews.
Eye witnesses to the killings gave their accounts on what happened on that day.
According to some eye witnesses, almost all the council members with the exception of President Yahya Jammeh
witnessed the killings of Abdoulie Dot Faal, Basiru Barrow, LT.Saye, Lt. Buba Jammeh and others. Among the AFPRC
Council Members in attendance at the mass execution ground includes Sana B Sabally, former Vice Chairman, Edward
Singhatey, Former Defense Minister, Sadibou Hydara, former Interior Minister, Yankuba Touray, former Tourism
Minister and Lamin Kaba Badjo former Local Government Minister. At the time of the coup in 1994, Lamin Kaba Badjo
was a captain commanding the Presidential Guards of ex-President Jawara under former Major Turo Jawneh. It was
alledged that when Kaba Badjo heard about the advancing soldiers coming to overthrow the government, he
abandoned the unit and ran away to Dakar Senegal with President Jawara's family. He returned a week later to be
given a high position when he was not even part of the coup.
I would for now spare President Jammeh any blame for 11th November as he was at the time contemplating on what
step to take after the brutal murders!
But please read on!
These are times when hatred started building up that led to the massacre of men in uniform.
Sergeant major Alhagie Cham Joof told his side of the story as thus: After the coup according to Joof, he was promoted
by Vice Chairman Captain Sana Sabally to a Lieutenant , what they call in the army as field promotion. He said after
when Yahya Jammeh saw him at state House he told other members that he did not want to see him there. It was
agreed that Yankuba Touray who was sir Jackal’s batch mate in the army to talk to him for him Sir Jackal to be allowed
to move to Yundum Barracks to become Lt. Barrow’s adjunctant. But the move did not satisfy Head of State Jammeh. It
was alledged in Sir Jackal’s testimony that Chairman Jammeh afterwards rung Lt. Barrow ordering Barrow to strip Sir
Jackal and send him to mile 2 to join Samsudeen Sarr and Mamat Cham. It was said that Late Lt. Basiru Barrow refused
to do that as Sir Jackal had committed no crimes to be send to mile 2.
Little did Barrow know that action of his would one day cost him his dear life? But according to Sir Jackal , Barrow did
obeyed Yahya Jammeh’s second order that was to demote Sir Jackal to Sergeant. But Barrow only removed Sir Jackal
as Sergeant major and put him as acting Sergeant major under late Lt. Gibriel Saye .That was not what Jammeh
wanted. He wanted Alhagie Cham Joof (alias Sir Jackal) to be demoted to sergeant so that he Cham Joof can return to
his company thus reaping him off any powers capable of posing any threat to him Jammeh as alledged by Joof.
Maybe that move kept Basiru for a while at the army. According to Sir Jackal both civilians and soldiers alike felt
betrayed by the new regime with their constant arrests of innocent people with tortures and disappearances and
according to him, as patriotic soldiers they felt obliged to rescue what little democratic tradition Gambia knew pre-July
1994. He said that led to the 11th November 1994 and July 1995 counter coup plans. He went on to say both
Lieutenants Barrow Faal and Saye amongst others felt the need to act to end the terror. So they decided to openly
discuss the situations and state their grievances openly.
The military’s first step to strengthen their grip on to power was to stage a strategy by betraying each other. Most of the
soldiers who took part in the coup were said to have felt being treated as mere tools after the coup was successful.
Many became angry which led to disagreements between them and the High Command council members. There was
hatred created by the junta’s favouritisms of close friends and relatives. For Example Yahya Jammeh had Susan Wafa
Ogu selected as minister while Fatoumata Tambajang who was said to be an aunt to then vice chairman Sana B.
Sabally was too selected as a minister. And most of what the soldiers agreed when they decided to take over from
Jawara forcefully was to act just like the Malian military by running the country through a transition and then hand over
to civilian government after an election.
But after few weeks, that mood changed within the military hierarchy as they tested leadership “Mansaya” “Burr” or
“Lamuu”. Things went heated and a lot of arguments took place within the senior ranking officers with Battalion
Commanders and their assistances refusing to accept what their own chosen colleagues choose to do. On the 10th of
November, the Military High Command headed by Captain sabally went to the Yundum Barracks and commenced a
meeting with those who voiced their total opposition for the army to stay in power indefinitely.
There at the Yundum Barracks Lt. Barrow and co were warned not to disobey orders and Edward Singhateh even was
said to fire a pistol threatening to kill anyone who dared challenge them. The meeting did not go well and fearing that
the angry camp commanders and other senior officers were still not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. Many of
senior officers were determined that Lt. Basiru Barrow should lead them at 2:00 am 11th November to flush Jammeh out
of State House. But some other Soldiers sneaked to inform members of the council for their own selfish ends so that
when those their colleagues get arrested and sent to mile two they the loyal ones would be replaced with promotions. At
11:30 Sana Sabally and Co. came back to the Yundum Barracks and started arresting soldiers.
The AFPRC Government on those early hours of Friday morning rounded up many of those framed and accused of
staging a putsch against the fourteen weeks old AFPRC government of Lt. Yahya Jammeh. Cpl. Fafa Nyang was the
first arrested but escaped that first arrest with Sir Jackal while the Junta was busy rounding up others. Joof , Kairaba
Camara and Nyang later returned to the Barracks. Cpl Lamin Bojang disappeared, Nyang and Camara were arrested
but Cham Joof escaped a second time. Prior to the murdering of these coup suspects, they were briefly detained at the
Mile Two Central prisons, where they were exposed to severely tortured by their captives. Both Dot Faal and Basiru
Barrow sustained serious degrees of injuries at that material time. The report went on to state house that Sana Sabally
who was wild and dangerous resorted to slapping one prison warden SGT.Manneh who was frightened because of what
he saw. It was said the poor prison Warden could do nothing but just accept his fate.
Sana Sabally tired of torturing the captured men, ordered for them to be escorted to Fajara Barracks for
execution that early morning.But one Gambian army officer named to have been present at the execution ground,
Colonel Lawrence Jarra, could not stand it any longer. He called his boss Baboucarr Jatta, the former army
commander. Jarra informed Jatta about moves taken by Sabally and co to execute the soldiers. Jatta’s reaction was
kind of a shock and disbelief. He was opposed to extra-judicial killings. It was said Baboucarr Jatta immediately arrived
at the scene of the execution grounds and warned Sana Sabally and co not to go ahead with the planned execution,
while citing the inhumane nature of such a move. Jatta wants the accused lives be preserved since according to the
report they were yet to be convicted by a competent court of law. As usual, sabally known to be aggressive and
arrogant insisted to go ahead with the planned execution. He went on telling Jatta that the coupist even named him
Jatta on their lists of those to be killed if they had succeeded. Eye witnesses said Sana even produced a list and
showed to Baboucarr Jatta said to be the list drafted by the alledge coupist. But Jatta’s name was said to have been
written with a pencil while the rest were in ink and he Jatta’s name was on top.
Upon Jatta’s enquires as to why Lt. Basiru Barrow and co wanted to kill him and others? Late Lt. Basiru Barrow tried to
explain to Baboucarr Jatta that they never staged any coup and in fact they only expressed their grievances and were
still not satisfied but before they acted they were all arrested and accused of staging a coup. Barrow went on explaining
to Baboucarr Jatta that there was no planned killing of anybody. Sana thereupon began shouting and went on the
rampage with madness hitting Basiru Barrow with the head of an AK 47 riffle on his mouth throwing all his teeth out of
his mouth flying. He was then so severely tortured that he was better dead than alive. As if that was not enough and
with blood every where, Edward Singhatey took Sadibu’s gun and shot Lt. Basiru three times. Lieutenant
Buba Jammeh was said to have even bravely handed his watch to one of the soldiers to give to his wife when he
realised the inevitable that the butchers would definitely kill them. Late LT.Jammeh wife is the sister of Alagi
Martin, “alias Lagos ” one of Yahya Jammeh’s favorite hit men today. Lt. Abdoulie Faal (DOT) had his back
bone broken by bending him backwards until the bone snap at his waist before he was shot and killed with
a 9mm pistol.
It was only after the blood thirsty men were tired due to flow of too much blood; they announced that the rest could run
while they are being shot at. If any one escaped, then that one is lucky. That announcement led many to run for their
lives by taking their chances which saved many to be alive today. Some ran away to Casamance region while others
fled to the other side of Senegal . That was how the likes of Lt. Alieu Bah, Lt. Lamin Jarju, Lt. Lf Jammeh, and
others escaped to Casamance only to meet former sergeant Alhagie Cham Joof (Sir Jackal). Others the
likes of Lt. Bineh Minteh and others, escaped to the other side of Senegal .
Lt Gibril Saye and others were brutally assassinated another day after Basiru and co’s brutal six feet deep sentences.
Some of the soldiers who could not die from their gun shot wounds. But instead of taking them to hospital, no they were
all dumped into a mass grave and buried alive with other dead bodies at Yundum Barracks near the present sentry
post with an army flag on top of their grave. That evening cries could be heard at the Barrack from soldiers who
witness those gruesome acts by men who just few months ago pre-July 22nd, were so friendly and jovial
human beings.
Power had blinded the Junta and they believed they can get away always with anything. But as they succeeded in
people accepting their version at the time for peace to prevail, they failed to remember nothing can be hidden for ever
as it was later proven that Fafa Nyang who together with Dot Faal were both natives of Ballanghar village two hundred
kilometres from Banjul and Lieutenant Buba Jammeh were also killed on the same day not the only three they
announced over Radio Gambia.
There were different execution grounds, namely Nymbai Forest , Yundum and Fajara Barracks, Sana
Sabally was said to have been in constant touch with President Jammeh during that entire episode.
I then ask my self why didn’t Chairman and Head of State Jammeh never stopped the senseless killings of
fellow compatriots who all contributed helping him to come to power?
One eye witness, a certain Captain Marong was at the killing field and he was amongst those pleading for the lives of
those allege coupist to be spared. He was said to have told Sabally and co to allow the rule of law to take its cause
rather killing those enemy combatants. But he did not know those he was dealing with for his opposition to the killing of
these officers never went down well with Sana Sabally and other Council Members, who resorted to terminate his
service a month later and jailed without any charges proffered against him. His only crime was speaking out against the
planned killings of Barrow, Faal and others little did he knew that Sabally who completely turned mad viewed any
opposition to his views then to be against God as he was god he thought. There was no evidence to link him with the
coupists, but the state was figuring out ways and means to eliminating all opposition so as to silence those they don’t
trust within the army. His arrest and subsequent detention was triggered by Sabally and co. Jammeh swiftly acted when
told by Sabally about Marong’s call to spare the lives of these soldiers by framing Marong and incacerating him at mile
2.
Sabally and his boys tortures never stopped. They continued their torture and harassment of Gambian soldiers and
civilians alike. Even former state ministers under the first republic including politician Omar Amadou Jallow, Yaya
Ceesay ect were never spared by the brute Sana .
The Butcher Sadibu Hydara’s message to the media and Gambians:
When people started talking in whispers (radio Kan kang) that the soldiers were actually killing more captured soldiers
and as Speculations and rumours were rife the then Minister of the interior; Lt. Sadibou Hydara was dispatched quickly
to strongly deny any summary executions of opponents of AFPRC having taken place following the quelling of the
November 11 attempted coup. He went on to say that he could not, for some reason, at this stage be precise on how
many people are dead as a result of the event, contrary to what his Bosses said just few days ago. Lt. Hydara had an
exclusive interview with the Point after the alledge coup, when as he said he was throwing some light on the genesis of
the abortive coup and all that followed. He said that Lt. Abdoulie Dot Faal, was killed in the Fajara shoot-out, was one of
the architects of the attempted coup. He accused the late Lt of malicious propaganda against the AFPRC. The
propaganda which, he said spread false stories that the presidential guard at State House earned D10, 000 monthly.
He said these rumours did so much disenchantment among the troops at Yundum barracks to the extent that a putsch
was plotted which led to the allege coup.
The coup plan had leaked, according to Hydara, and "We were alert and ready for them. One of the plotters, Lt. Saye,
was killed on the spot at Yundum where the fight was brief", he said. Things soon moved to Fajara where the coup
drama itself was played out inside the Fajara Barracks when Lt. Basiru and his men attacked around 3am Friday
morning and went on till 6.30am. Infact Sadibu is Gambia ’s greatest liar ever in recorded memory.
Even if that was so, who did Barrow and his men wounded or even killed between three and a half hours of fighting?
Even if they were mere rebels from Kukoi’s NRC of 1981 most of whom were mere taxi drivers, at least they would have
either wounded or killed one of those alleged mysterious loyal soldiers to the government. Much more knowing the fact
that most of those alleged killed coupist were commissioned trained soldiers some even graduating from sanhurst in
England. None one was reported to have been even scratched by the alledge coupist even to this day.
My private investigations led me to the fact that these men were captured and butchered in cold blood. When Lt Basiru
was coming to the military Barracks, most of his colleagues were captured and tied like fire wood and Basiru received a
call from a close friend within the Jammeh inner circles then (Name withheld) who called Lt Barrow and asked him to flee
the country and never come to the camp as most of the soldiers who attended meetings with the junta were being
rounded up. Barrow was said to have said to those he was with (names withheld) that he Barrow would never run that
he would go and free or die with them because a leader does not desert his group. This was how Barrow came to
the camp and then Sana was waiting for him with armed men.
AFPRC lying machine however admitted that a number of soldiers had been wounded, but ran away instead of going
for hospital treatment. "A number of these eventually died, and I have heard of corpses being picked up in places; but I
cannot tell you how many."
What a fallacy compared to what he said earlier?
Lt. Hydara said the AFPRC was still trying to find out how many soldiers were involved in the coup attempt, He said two
officers known to him have escaped or still at large were; Lt.B. Minteh and Lt. LT.Jammeh.
Hydara told the Point that it was a mistake they had made in promoting so many young officers so soon after the
military takeover. Seeing that as having contributed to the problem in the army, he said he was confident of the senior
officers being solidly behind the AFPRC.
But I kept wondering which of the soldiers did the AFPRC Junta promoted apart from themselves? All those they said
were killed were Lieutenants before the coup and so died Lieutenants. So who did they promote? Some so called
loyalists who went on to inform them of the planned coup? Or was he referring to then Acting Sergeant Major Alhagie
Cham Joof (Alias Sir Jackal) who they asked to be demoted?
Also the coup plotters, according to late Hydara, had intended, if they succeeded, to slaughter all members of the
AFPRC, cabinet ministers and some top government officials. He said the authorities got this information from certain
loyalists who had deserted the ranks of the plotters.
The AFPRC spokesman gave the dead coupist names as Lt. Basiru Barrow, commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion in
Bakau, Lt. Saye and Lt. Fall. He revealed that those rebels captured would soon be charged and brought before court.
What a lie . Bakau was never the 1st infantry Battalion Camp. I am no soldier but am sure soldiers would correct me if I
am wrong much Late Lt. Basiru Barrow was not at the time of the alleged coup commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion.
He was moved to the Army Head Quarters. I met him there.
Though some Gambians today doubted Former Lt. Bineh S. Minteh who said that he vehemently denied claims by the
Military Junta that November 11th was an attempted coup. He said that there is no truth in the claims of the Military
junta that it was an attempted coup. As far as he Minteh was concerned there actions only stemmed from paranoia, and
efforts in consolidating their positions. He clarified however that there was discontentment and dissatisfactions within
the ranks of the army, that may have poised the Junta to act inhumanely and took innocent lives. He went on to say that
his barracks was attacked shortly before 2.30am whilst they were on their normal standby routine after the Junta had
carried out massive arrests, torture and some executions. He alledged that Lt Abdoulie Dot Faal was arrested whilst on
a patrol duty to Yundum Barracks and Lieutenant Gibril Saye was arrested whilst off duty at his residence which was of
cause substantiated by other eye witnesses to be true. The rest of the officers were arrested whilst returning to
Yundum Barracks for their normal standby duties.
Now even if his statements were exaggerated, much of it turns out to be true. Maybe he did not know everything that
had happened just like the rest of us.
But the fact is regardless of Former Lt. Minteh’s statements, we Gambians should remember that prior to Sadibu’s
statements the exact words of his Bosses, Yahya Jammeh and Sana B Sabally were thus “Chairman of the AFPRC and
Head of State Lt. Yahya Jammeh in a statement over Radio Gambia disclosed that the failed coup led by Lt. Basiru
Barrow who was among the three known to have perished in the early morning exchange of gun-fire with the forces
loyal to his government clearly stated only three soldiers died in the shoot out.” He Chairman Jammeh went on to state
that they the council regret their deaths and urged the general public that the situation had returned to normal.
Sadibu went on to tell Gambians that the plotters had planned to takeover the Fajara Military Barracks in Bakau and
the State House in Banjul and install an all military government”
This sounds to be to be a lie because the Junta them selves are another military government hell bent on killing to
retain power for good.
Cont…….. . They appealed for calm and reassured the public of the AFPRC government’s commitment to offer security
guarantee to life and property.
But today what are we witnessing? Have the slain soldiers and eye witnesses not been proven right?
Has the Junta turned civilian government not catapulted itself to lucking up anyone in an open state prison with anyone
who dares speak your mind to face electric cables under their pants in a form of brutal torture!
Also Bakary Dabo, the Minister of Finance in the both the PPP government and the AFPRC was framed in the alledge
coup and said to have fled the country on Sunday 13 November at 18.30 on board his personal car with members of
his family. He was said to have been lodged at Hobe Hotel in Kolda.
But all the same, we have not forgotten when in 1994 the military junta barely two weeks after taken power from
democratically regime of Sir Dawda Jawara, proposed a four year time table to return the nation to civilian rule. A
programme that sent a chill through most Gambians as four years was too long to be under a military government as
we in the Gambia took stock from other African countries where military coups have taken place. Later it became clear
that was just a pretext to buy time and see ways to strengthen their grip on power even if that means shedding as many
blood as possible thus putting us all to more years of misery and bondage.
Following an appeal from Lt. Sana Sabally for public understanding, life returned to normal with people going about
their normal business as if sons of the soil were not brutally executed in cold blood when they could have been taken to
court and tried. Some greedy civilian public wanting to have their share of the national cake (as we see some commonly
call corruption in most African countries) with the military regime even blaming the dead soldiers as to why they wanted
to remove Jammeh’s regime? But that action of brothers and sisters thus gave the military High Command more
licensed to kill and lie about it as they know they would be believed anytime.
On midday, apart from the spate of rumours, speculation and apprehension of a public desirous of living in peace,
there was nothing to show that the attempted coup had taken place and so it had become a thing of the past.
Something typical of Gambians with loads of people spreading their own radio kang kangs.
Some even alleged that Basiru disappeared and fled to Casamance with a red pajero putting his family and
loved ones with glimmers of hope to find him alive. Some family members kept travelling to and from
Casamance to no avail with little knowledge that mad Sana had cowardly sent a man who loves his country
so dearly, a man whose heart is made of gold, a man full of peace, love, care with jokes and smiles to his
unexpected early grave.
I grew up under Basiru in the same compound and have known him so much that I still believe he would have died ten
times to save his beloved Country as I knew how he loved the Gambia and never believes in tribalism. He calls himself a
Fula. A tribe he truly is though he speaks little or no Fula but married a Fula lady.
We shall read below how Saye and others met their fate as narrated by another eye witness.
Also another former military police Lieutenant Kejaw Touray was one of the officers in attendance at the execution
sites. Kejaw was indeed a living witness to the incident, which shocked some GNA officers. He now resides in the UK
These were the words of former Lt. Kejaw Touray and as I quoted an online narration of his side of the story, some
words I omitted.
THE GNA SOLDIERS NOT THE POWER BASE FOR YAYA JAMMEH
………….”I would first like to extend my sincere appreciation to all those wonderful comments sent by
various…………………….. Your encouraging words were certainly morale boosters and have reinforced my
determination and spirit to be more sharing with a candid approach. I cannot however ignore the few questions
forwarded doubting the credibility of my information, because I sincerely believe that every sceptic deserve a
satisfactory explanation of everything said about the Jammeh regime. Saying that I was a true serving member of the
Gambia National Army (GNA) from its early inception in 1985 to its most recent past may not be sufficient consolidate
the credibility I hope to project. If I also stopped at merely explaining my broad knowledge of military operations-orders
ranging from the section, platoon, company or even battalion battle drills the highest operational capability of the
present GNA my points may still not sink in well into the minds of those without proper military education.
However before elaborating on some more tangible lines, I would like to
inform everybody that I am a well-trained infantry soldier with advanced skills of a combatant in field craft, the special
ability of a sharp shooter but above all the discipline of a true soldier. A true soldier precisely means a good
fighter for the right course without being unnecessarily bloodthirsty. It also
means being professional and having less or nothing to do with politics.
Soldiers with political aspirations are nothing but rebels or bandits in uniform.
However let me now give a broader or additional proof of my assertion that
Jammeh's government always comes up with false coup plots merely to eliminate innocent Gambians. Take the case of
Captain Yankuba Dramme the current Commanding Officer (CO) of the largest fighting battalion in the GNA, 1 Infantry
battalion. His office and cellular phone numbers are 4722121 and 990178 respectively. He is now said to have been
sent abroad as a diplomat
And if he is honest with you, he should be able to tell you the harrowing experience he suffered at Mile Two Central
prisons accused by Jammeh of a dubious coup plot against his government. Or you try Captain Cherno Jallow the
present CO of the second largest battalion on his office number-497100-and he could also tell you the terrible days he
was incarcerated at death row by Yaya for planning a coup he could not justify. Captain Alpha Kinteh at the Army
Headquarters Banjul on 225772or225771 also suffered in the hands of Yaya on a coup conspiracy charge no one
could enlighten for him. I could go on and on, but that would simply tie me down on this subject that I think I have now
been adequately treated, at least for this forum. So I will move to my next subject deserving equal importance.
“As a former member of the GNA I am now trying to find the right voice to speak for mainly those honest and good
soldiers of the GNA who had nothing to do with Yaya's coup and am ashamed of being associated with him or his
government. Nevertheless the general civilian public often categorize all the soldiers in uniform as other Yaya
Jammehs, Edward Singhatehs, Lamin Kaba Bajos, Yankuba Tourays or the few stupid ones blindly following
them…………
…………….Take for instance the so-called counter coup of 11th November 1994 when Yaya Jammeh falsely accused
some GNA officers and other ranks and then summarily executed them in the most gruesome manner. The majority
were executed on the 13th of November, two days after the AFPRC government stated that all of them were killed in a
shoot out on the 11th of November. The entire Gambian public was aware of the lies of the government in that serious
crime. But how did they react to that unlawful butchery of those innocent Gambian soldiers?
They simply gossiped their regret over the terrible act without a single voice of protest raised or any form of pressure
exerted on Jammeh and his killers to satisfy their doubts. The soldiers at Yundum Barracks that evening wept like
children as their colleagues were driven away in a Land Rover pick-up vehicle to the out skirts of Nyambai Forest where
they were cowardly killed one after another. The bulk of the soldiers stood by numb in their legs with fear and shock
when the dead limp bodies were later brought back and handed over to the moronic Chief-Of-Staff Baboucarr Jatta
who supervised the final terrible act of burying the men naked behind the toilets. The last shots that killed Sergeants E.
M.Ceesay and Basiru Camara were ordered by Edward Singhateh around 6.00p.m. His former driver Batch Jallow used
a Chinese-made A.K 47, folding butt, to shoot and killed the two Sergeants at point range…………... Anyhow the
Gambian public seemed to care less about that crime.
At least the Gambian public could have asked for the bodies with proper post-mortem performed on everyone and of
course have they handed over to their families for proper burial. There was no war or social disturbance in the nation at
that moment to necessitate those killings and hasty terrible burial. The only reason they were to hide the evidence of
what they did. Up to this present time no one shows a glimmer of interest in that case. It is not proper for those soldiers
to remain there forever as if they do not deserve to be buried in any cemeteries in the country. Why should Yaya
Jammeh condition the minds of all the Gambians into remaining this silent about something that he has no iota of justice
or human decency? Why? Why? Why? These men had wives and children who still don't know where their fathers have
disappeared to since that day they left for work in 1994. By comparison however, the public sympathy and out cry made
when a civilian died was though welcomed but the same should have been for other innocent Gambian soldiers lying at
Yundum. ….
Did we know that Lt.Gibril Saye was arrested while on an off duty nursing his new baby at his home and
brutally tortured with a bayonet all over his body including pulling both his eyes out before he was finally
shot by Staff Sergeant Kanyi? It was alleged he was even cut to pieces in order for him to fit into the land
rover after he was killed by Monster Alagi Kanyi from Jarra Sankuya commonly known as “Killer” a name he
was said to later brag about.
I personally knew Gibriel Saye to be a very tall smiling gentle man called in the Army as the right Marker!
What about Bakary Manneh “Nyancho” and Lt. Momodou Lamin Darboe? Darboe was said to have been posted at
Basse where he was summoned to the Army Head quarter and arrested and tortured before being killed.
All the above mentioned names, I knew personally. Dot Fall, B. Manneh “Nyancho” and M L. Darboe “Susso” are my
former school mates at Armitage. M.L. Darboe and I were childhood friends.
“All these stories were more or less known to the Gambian public, but because they were soldiers, the crimes were
perfectly normal. When Jammeh hits a civilian regardless of how friendly or close that person was to the tyrant, the
action is condemned with the whole GNA sometimes blamed for it. Yet when a soldier attempts to even question the
legitimacy of the regime and as a result when he is maimed or killed the public says little or nothing about it.”
Jammeh's government since the coup in 1994, it has always been the civilians who supplied him with the
right administrative ingredients that has sustained his government for so long. The soldiers could not and
in reality would not if they could. Apparently even the most educated and best trained soldiers of the GNA
had no clue of how to run a government much more Yaya one of the most under-educated and less-trained
in the army.
With his grade 11 high school education, He was not even a member of the GNA. He was gendarmerie
personnel with then worst record of professional or academic attainment. If the civilians worshipping him
were aware of how mentally backward he was, and they decide to stop helping him and within few hours
his government would collapse altogether. But perhaps the civilians very well know the low mental level of
the fool and enjoy exploiting it for their selfish interests."
I must add of cause that Jammeh had proven Kejaw wrong as he turned out to be even smarter than those very so
called intellectuals who he used and dumped at will to this day.
But all the same Kejaw was right; we civilians are still to blame because greed, greed, and greed or is it maybe I serve
Jammeh and when I get fired, have a good CV? But hey wait a minute, what can some do? Families need to survive
and if they don’t work they might starve. That is my opinion though I am sure I shall never serve under any dictator
unless if he/she changes not only Jammeh even if my party leaders wins today and changes, I shall turn against him
tomorrow! That is my philosophy period!
Kejaw continued……………..What is only sad about it is the continuous denunciation of the ordinary common
soldiers for keeping the regime in power.” Remember Fafa Mbye who selfishly armed the Jammeh regime at the
beginning with all those decrees and legal arsenals used to destroy several selected Gambian families? Can you also
remember those so-called great civilian intellectuals of the Jawara era who have totally shifted their loyalty
to Jammeh with fanatical zeal? On the active front, there were Bolong Sonko, Blaise Jagne, Omar Njie,
Famara Jatta, Isatou Njie Saidy, Balla Jahumpa, Mustapha Marong, Ann Teresse Ndong, Susan Wafa Ogu,
and the most prominent being Momodou Lamin Sidat Jobe ect ect.
Now would we blame Jammeh and the military alone and allow his contemporaries within the civilian field blameless for
their role in helping build the concrete stone foundation that now made it possible for the whole Gambia being held
hostage.
It is true that, an ordinary civil disobedience establishment would have been the easiest way to expel of the Jammeh
government from power. But has Kejaw forgotten the type of Gambian we live in? No body wants to die and anyone
killed in any Civil disobedience would be blamed much more we cannot be compared to any neighbouring Nation. The
truth is we are all scared and I personally think the very soldiers who put us in this mess in the first place should have
corrected it. But now every thing changed Jammeh is now a civilian president mandated by the Gambian people and
has every right to rule but it should be under the banner of our constitution and not with dictatorship.
Kejaw said “real soldiers would prefer it that way. A genuine mass movement would attract a lot of soldiers to move
along with it rather than against.” He went on to suggest that “instead even the career politicians remain silent in their
houses or offices.” He asked for the where about of the Sheriff Dibbas, Andrew Camaras, Gibou Jagnes etc. etc.?
He went on to say that: “it hurts all serving soldiers dearly to associate Yaya Jammeh with true military characters or
values since the man he said is nothing but a pathological liar, a "corrupt maniac" and a mass murderer
under the guise of the noble army uniform. He lies about every thing under the sun, he even decorated him self
with the ECOMOG medal and would often lie shamelessly about the peacekeeping role he played in Liberia when he
had never step his foot there. He lies about how Sana Sabally and the late Sadibou Haidara aimed their weapons at
him on the 27th of January 1995 and attempted to shoot him without success because his "jujus" caused the guns to
malfunction. The soldiers who apprehended Sana and Sadibou would tell you how Yaya out of fear……. hiding away
from the actual encounter” Kejaw claimed.
Take for instance the insult to all military ethics by Jammeh giving the official residence of the CO at Fajara
Barracks to his mother. The house was once occupied by Major Ebrima Chongan and should have now
been occupied by the current Commander…………. But believe in me, looking at the danger Yaya has
entangled himself with as the pitiful President of The Gambia condemned on a clear path of ultimate doom,
few or no soldiers would even contemplate eliminating him for fear of being stock with the possibility of
becoming another suicidal leader.
Just like other former rulers who ruled brutally and perished in a pathetic way. The likes of Former great Mabutu of
Zaire(DRC), Samuel Doe of Liberia, Nino Vierra of Guinea Bissau who once got the message and chance to leave the
political scene when they could but played the fool until they were captured and butchered.
But I would still insist that the civilians and not the soldiers for once should take the bull by the horns and organise civil
disobediences. Or would they continue to find their personal opportunities of big positions in the
government while still blaming the soldiers for keeping Jammeh in power? Was it not a shocking shame
that Abdoulie Sallah after retiring with absolute disgrace as ambassador has accepted another ministerial
position from Yaya? Kejaw asked.
The soldiers should continue to pray hoping that time would show the clear truth. But I am still looking
forward to that special day when the remains of our colleagues are removed from the back of the toilets of
Yundum and paraded with honour before given the peaceful burial they honestly deserve” Kejaw went on.
“The Gambian constitution will be rectified to cover all of the soldiers dead or alive and will ensure that such things
would never be entertained in our midst again. If soldiers are killed again under any circumstances, our families must
get the bodies and we would lay our lives to stop any man trying to bury us behind toilets of our own barracks. Sorry to
say, but for the moment any of you out there could end up in those shallow graves at Yundum Barracks. “ he
concluded!
To sum it up, in a show of force and tyranny, Sana . Sabally and accomplices carried out the extrajudicial
execution of Lieutenant Basiru Barrow, Lieutenant Abdoulie Faal (Dot), Lieutenant Gibril Saye, Lieutenant
Buba Jammeh, Lieutenant Momodou Lamin Darboe, Second Lieutenant Bakary Manneh (Nyancho), Officer-
Cadet Sillah, Warrant Officer Fafa Nyang, Kairaba Camara and Sergeants E.M.Ceesay in cold blood while
they went telling the Nation that only three soldiers died in a shoot out with loyal forces.
Fellow Gambians, as we take stock of what happened, let us reflect on the fact that after the November incident, more
citizens both soldiers and civilians perished under bullets and Barton by our own brothers in Uniform who told us they
are soldiers with a difference.
Next issue, we shall come up with what happened that led to tragic killing of our dear talented Brother Late Ousman
Koro Ceesay six months later. He was mercilessly butchered for only accepting to serve his Country under the Junta
and other events leading to the death of the10 innocent students, deaths of Almamo Manneh and Sergeant Dumbuya
and the case of Daba Marenah and co leading to the death sentence on former Army chief of staff Lt. Col. Lang
Tombong Tamba and co.
Stay tuned!
With God’s guidance and will, I shall be back soon with more startling revelations!
God bless the Gambia !
By Brother Bamba Mass
Best matches for sana B sabally
statements the exact words of his Bosses, Yahya Jammeh and Sana B Sabally were thus “Chairman of the AFPRC and. Head of State Lt. Yahya Jammeh in a... Jump to text »
Gambians have to choose between continued state dictatorship and state democracy. Otherwise we would all remain on the peril of an eminent doom. 
? Who send them and who do they represent? Now fellow Gambians can you still argue that all these men and women of our dear motherland were wrong and only Yahya Jammeh ALONE has the country’s development at heart? One must think hard especially those in their positions today. Would your names be on the above list when Gambians returned Yahya Jammeh to power in November? Definitely some of you cabinet minister would be maybe even before November. 
