13 YEAR OLD, TWO OTHERS DETAINED FOR 33 DAYS

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By Mustapha Jallow Yusupha Lowe (a 13 year old),  Pa Alieu Lowe, (19 years old) and Jarriatou Lowe,who Bai  Loweare the son, younger brother and ex-wife of Baboucar ‘Bai’ Lowe, Warrant Officer Cass 2 of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), have spent 33 days in  custody, according to a family source. A family source said they are still concerned about the schooling of Yusupha and Pa Alieu who have spent 33 days in detention without being released or having access to them.The source says the reason for their arrest is still not known to them; adding that the boys have been missing classes since the beginning of the second term. The desperate family has pleaded to the authorities to release their loved ones. The arrests came in the wake of the 30 December 2014 armed attack on state house in Banjul and  Mr Babucar Bai Lowe a former Warrant Officer Cass 2 of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) is alleged to be involved. Bai’s son, younger brother and ex-wife were arrested in Lamin around 3pm on 1 January 2015 by men in plain clothes and whisked away in a waiting vehicle with tinted glasses to an unknown destination. A family source says they have made attempts to visit the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) office in Banjul to take clothes to them but the guards at the gate refused to take them.  In their last attempt caution was given that they should stay away. Family members are concerned about the state of health of those arrested as they have not been allowed to give them clothes or food. The detention of the trio has exceeded the 72 hours required by the 1997Constitution of the Second Republic of the Gambia for the detention of a person without a court order. ]]>