JABANG ALKALO, FOUR OTHERS DETAINED, RELEASED ON BAIL

By Mustapha Jallow Foroyaa has received reports that the alkalo and four other elders of the village of Jabang in the West Coast Region were arrested and detained on Monday, 13 April, 2015 at the Old Yundum Police Station before being released on bail on the same day.Pa Ebrima Colley, the village alkalo (head), Ebrima Colley, the deputy Imam, Abass Colley, Ousman Colley and Abdou Colley were arrested and later released. When this reporter visited the police station yesterday, 14 April, a large crowd comprising some elders (men), women and young people of the village accompanying the five elders reporting on bail were found in the vicinity. Speaking to the Jabang Alkalo on his way home, after reporting on bail, he explained that he received a telephone call from the police (C.I.D) who told him that he was wanted with the four others at the station. He said upon their arrival at the station, they were detained from the morning until around 8pm and then released on police bail. Alkalo Colley said their arrest came about after some people went about looking for donation to build a mosque. He claimed that some people wrote a petition to report him to the executive. He said CID officers were later sent to the village to investigate the matter and who invited him to the police station. The Jabang Alkalo said they were asked to report on bail tomorrow (Wednesday) 15 April, 2015 at the same station. It was also reported that the Alkalo was earlier arrested and detained at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on 5 January and held for 3 days before being released without charge. When the spokesperson of the Gambia Police Force (GPF) was contacted to shed light on the matter, ASP David Kujabi told this reporter that he is not aware of the incident but promised to find out and get back to this reporter today.]]>