The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Police Force, Cadet Assistant Superintendent Muhammad Y. Darboe, confirmed to Kerr Fatou that a grade 4 student had allegedly been abducted by three men.

Last week, social media was abuzz with the news that a grade 4 student from Sinchu Alhagie Lower Basic School had been kidnapped and forced to swallow a Dalasi coin.

In an interview with Kerr Fatou, Cadet ASP Darboe of the Gambia Police Force explained what their investigations had revealed.

“The victim’s name is Lolly Camara. She is 13 years old. At the police, we receive information on Tuesday 11th July 2033 from her mother.  Her mother came to report the matter to the police. She told the Police that she did not see her child. She said her child is kidnapped by foreign nationals.  

“So our people (Police) went to do their investigation to find out whether the suspicion of her mother is true. They went to the main suspect’s house, who is a Guinean National.  They found the child in the Guinean National’s house. The Guinean National was assisted by two Sierra Leoneans making it 3 suspects now. They are 3 in number and they are all male,” He said.  

Cadet ASP Darboe told Kerr Fatou that the main suspect has been charged with abduction, while the two others have been charged as accomplices. He added that the Old Yundum Police Station did not detain the suspects, and the case has been transferred to the Wellingara Police Station, where they are currently being detained.

“It is true that during our investigation, we found that the girl was forced to swallow a dalasi coin.  As a result, she was not able to ease herself for days. Then she was taken to Ndeban Clinic where she was admitted.  The suspects are currently with the Police helping them with their investigations. Their files are transferred to Old Yundum so that they can appear in court. I actually don’t know yet when they will appear in court,” he told Kerr Fatou

Cadet ASP Darboe also commented on the protest by the students of Sinchu Alhagie Lower Basic School. He said that teachers from the school went to Old Yundum Police Station to inquire about the suspects, but were told that the suspects had been detained at Wellingara Police Station. The teachers and students then proceeded to hold a solidarity march in front of the station where the suspects were being held.

“The teachers went and have a staff meeting according to our investigation and unanimously agreed to hold a solidarity March in front of Wellingara Police Station.  Both teachers were apprehended and questioned on the motive of their March pass to bring those kids without approval from the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP). But those teachers are released after the questioning,” Cadet ASP Darboe told Kerr Fatou