By Amadou Manjang
A tourist taxi driver in Kombo Sanyang is demanding compensation from the Gambia Police Force after his tourists’ taxi was hit by a vehicle driven by a Policeman.
Ousainou Badgie alleges that a convoy of security forces ‘deliberately’ knocked his car parked on the roadside which dented the doors.
Badgie said the incident occurred on January 31, 2024 around the Sanyang car park in the West Coast Region.
According to Badgie, his taxi was parked on the roadside to give way to the convoy when he noticed that there was a security convoy on the road.
‘The vehicles in front of the convoy passed me, but one lorry full with security forces, including police, paramilitary and soldiers deliberately knocked my car,’ he recounts the incident.
He added that the knock has dented the doors and broken the side mirror of his tourist taxi.
‘When the police lorry knocked my car, the security forces including police and paramilitary personnel alighted and started shouting at me. They have even threatened to arrest me,’ Badgie said.
The Kombo Sanyang resident said he had reported the incident to Sanyang Police Station where the incident was recorded.
‘But nothing has been done yet. I use this car for my business to generate income to feed my family. Right now it’s difficult to open the doors of my car because I don’t have money to fix it,’ he said.
Badgie said he needs compensation from the police because the accident was ‘deliberate.’
‘My car was parked off the road. The police vehicle deliberately knocked my car because it passed the rear of my car and hit near the front side. I was sitting there. I even have to move quickly to the other seat besides the driver, if not I would have sustained injuries,’ he said.
Badgie said traffic police officers should have documented the incident and charged anyone who was at fault.
‘But none of this happened, why?’ he asked.
Foroyaa has contacted the police to comment on the matter but at the time of going to press, the police said they’re not aware of the incident.
