Father says he lost 3-year-old son due to April 2000 student massacre

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By AWA SECKA

Ousman Sembene, father to a victim of April 10 and 11 student massacre in 2000, Musa Sembene has told the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission, TRRC that his son was shot in the head by the men of Police Intervention Unit (PIU) at his residence in London Coner, Serekunda.

He said Musa was then taken to Serekunda hospital and later transferred to Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) now Edward Francis Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) at the Intensive Care Unit for three days without any treatment.

“Musa lied down bleeding from his mouth, nose, and his ears for three days,” he recalled.

He said they went to one Cuban doctor who told him that they don’t have the facility to treat his son in the country.

He said as they were at the hospital the then VP Isatou Njie-Saidy visited them.

He explained that the Cuban doctor advised him to take Musa to Dakar, Senegal for treatment which he did, stating that he bought two air ticket one for Musa and the other for the nurse who accompanied the child to Abass Ndao hospital in Dakar.

Mr. Sembene further stated that the then Gambian Government didn’t give any support to his son during his trip to Dakar.

He added that Musa was shot in the right side of his head and the bullet was removed from the left side at the back of his head.

“My son was admitted at the hospital for almost two month before he died. I blame the former president Yahya Jammeh and his Vice President for the death of my 3-years-old son,” the witness pointed out.