In a leaked audio recording, Sheriffo Sanyang could be heard confessing to burning down the political bureau of the Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC). He alleged that he was sent to do so by former State Guard Commander, Saul Badjie, and former Minister of the Interior, Ousman Sonko.
Mr. Sanyang said that the plan to burn down the bureau was hatched between himself, Ousman Sonko, and Saul Badjie. He said that Saul Badjie first approached him while he was on duty at the gate of State House.
“Saul Badjie often complained that the guards at the State House only opened one gate for him when he arrived. I started opening both gates for him, and he was pleased. He gave me $100 and said I was loyal. From then on, he always recognized me.
“One day, we were offloading rice at your store. Saul Badjie came over and said that we were fools for offloading rice. He said that we would all die of offloading rice,” he said.
He said on that day also Saul Badjie gave him D2000 and said he wanted to talk to him, which he said he agreed to;
“After we offloaded the rice from the truck, I was going to leave, and he called me to his office. He told me he had a job for me from the big man (Yahya Jammeh). He told me if I do the job well, he would make me an orderly in the house and I agreed. GNPC was my first task to burn, but the one in Bakau was not properly burned because I had to rush and shift to the one in Abuko. That one was also burned by me, I went to GNPC and burned out those trucks because I wanted to blow up the entire petrol station, but time didn’t favour me. I burn the first one, but the security was there to off the fire, then I rushed to the second one the same day,” he could be heard saying on the leaked audio.
He said when he completed his mission, he went home and the following day Saul Badjie came and gave him some cash for a job well done;
“The next day, I was on duty. I was feeling uneasy, as I thought it might be a setup. I was on standby with my AK and pistol, waiting for him. But when he came, he tapped me on the back and gave me some money. He told me to take it and buy some Ataya. He did this in front of people, which gave me some relief.” he said.
After that mission, Sanyang said that Saul Badjie told him that his boss, former Gambian Interior Minister Ousman Sonko, wanted to see him.
“I met Ousman Sonko, the minister of interior at the time, in Kanilai on the day that all the ministers were summoned there. I was the guard commander at “Four House” that day. Saul came to me and said that Sonko would be calling me. Sonko called and picked me up, and we went to the Sindola Hotel. He told me that Saul had told him about me and that they wanted me to do something, and it was an assignment from the big man. This has always been what they told me, that what I am doing is for the big man and in the interest of the country. I wanted to report this, but I was scared. I told him that I would be available anytime you people wanted me.” he said
Sanyang recalled that one day, Saul Badjie called him, picked him up in a vehicle, and drove them to Banjul.
“He parked the car after the graveyard in Banjul and told me they wanted me to go and burn the APRC Political Bureau. There are documents that they wanted to destroy. All documents. He said to me, don’t reserve anything, burn everything. But when I asked him like, seriously, he said yes you have to burn everything. This is an executive order for the good of the country. You have to do it as soon as possible. I asked him if he would protect me.
“He said yes, and he told me the minister was in for it. He drove me to Kamalo road and Sonko met us there. Sonko seated In front of the vehicle, and I was sitting in the back. He told to do it (Burn the APRC political bureau) as quick as possible. They directed me where the bureau was. They told me everything was worked out and Yankuba Colley (former KMC mayor) was aware of it. He told me Saul call you by tomorrow to you give you some cash to rent a car”. He said