By Nelson Manneh
The victims of the demolition exercise at Amdallai, North Bank Region of the Gambia have demanded compensation from the government.
Gambian authorities have on Tuesday, 17 October, demolished compounds and shops at Amdallai Village, leaving victims to fend for themselves without any form of compensation. The victims of the demolition were dumbfounded as they watched their structures being razed to the ground.
The demolition team was accompanied by personnel of the Police Intervention Unit and Immigration Officers.
Madam Kura Faal, one of the victims, said since the demolition of her compound, she has not received any information from the government regarding the issue.
“Since the demolition of my building, I haven’t seen any government official coming to talk to us. I am yet to receive any information regarding compensation,” she said.
Madam Faal added that her source of income has now been stopped as she is now sitting at home without engaging in any economic activity.
“As a single mother, it is very painful to sit at home without doing anything to generate income. I had some shops that I was renting, but they are all razed to the ground. I have no other source of income,” she noted.
Faal said the Alkalo of Amdallai village neither visited nor sympathized with them.
Mr Omar Jallow, a businessman whose shop was razed to the ground, said he has not heard anything from the authorities.
“We are still waiting to see whether the authorities will compensate us. I am the breadwinner of my family, I have no other source of income,” he said.
All the victims who spoke to this reporter yesterday, Monday 23 October 2023 said they are all waiting to hear from the government.
Foroyaa has also made a follow-up to the office of the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Local Government and Lands to find out whether the victims will be compensated, but we are yet to receive any feedback from them.
