Couple, Lamin and Nyima testify before TRRC

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By AWA SECKA JAWARA

A couple, Lamin Badjie, 44-year-old and native of Sintet in Foni and Nyima Jarju 36-year-old woman, native of Tabokoto, Kanifing Municipality testified before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC).

Commencing his testimony, Lamin Badjie said that the ‘’witch hunters’’ left Kanilai with former President Jammeh’s aide, Major Solo Bojang, whiles he (Lamin) was working for the former president.

Lamin said he saw Solo Bojang and his colleagues filling their vehicles preparing to go to Sintet which made him suspicious that there might be some grudges against his Father who was the alkalo (village head).

He said he also heard that Tamba Jiro and team were heading to his village but before their arrival his father was briefed about their ploy.

He added that he was at work and later heard that Tamba Jiro and his peoples were already in his village, that he decided to I rush home after work to visit his family.

“Upon reaching home, I saw my father struggling and looking distressful in pains,” he said.

The witness said when he asked his father about the matter the old man responded that Solo Bojang and his peoples brought Tamba Jiro to converge them at the health center where they were treated cruelty by inserting their heads in a smoke pot to suffocate them wickedly.

He explained that before the ‘witch hunters’ hit Sintet his father received information that they were coming and he ran away.

“When I close from work and I went to Sintet to find out what was happening. When he arrived home he did not find anybody there at the time as his father ran to Dasilami,” said the witness.

Badjie asserted he was coming from Kanilai and saw the police vehicle going after his father at Dasilami.
“When they arrived at Dasilami the alkalo (village head) called the people to attack the police because they were there to abduct my father.”

The witness added that when he came back people were looking low upon him because his father’s name was at the top of the list and they have been searching for him everywhere.

He said he had to quit his job to take care of his father as it as a difficult moment.

For her part, Lamins wife, Nyima Jarju said she was found breasting her son and they asked whether he is his child and she responded in the positive.

She also recollected that the day her husband came home she prepared some food to take it to his father who went to Darsilami.

She said when he met Lamin, he cried as he was worried and concerned that if they will see frequently.

She said when she was going to Casamance she wanted to go with Lamin’s father but his family insisted that he won’t go anywhere but later begged them and her request was eventually granted and they took him on a donkey cart.

She said the whole episode of ‘itch hunting’ exercise terrified the old man, that even if he hears a vehicle noise at home he would jump.

“A day after the ‘witch hunters’ came some police officers from Kalagi came to our home to search for me and met my in-law to asked about my whereabouts. She told them that I went to the garden and she escorted them to my garden. Upon arrival they asked me to board a vehicle and whisked me away to Sibanor police station.”

She said she was interrogated about the whereabouts of her Lamin’s father which she never disclosed.

She said the officer in charge told them to put her in a cell along with her in-law and child for a whole week.

She said when she was in police custody neither her nor her child took bath until a young police woman came to her aid, took her to her house and told her to stop starving herself as a lactating mother which is not good for the wellbeing of her child.

In her concluding remarks, NyimaJarju said she cried during her testimony because of the ordeals and embarrassment she went through.