By Mustapha Jallow
Relatives of Sheikh Omar Colley of Jabang village in Kombo South District are asking about his whereabouts after he was
arrested and detained at the Old Yundum police station on Thursday, 15 October, 2015.
A close family source told this reporter at Mr. Colley’s home in Jabang that their brother was called by someone who claimed to be calling from Bansang police station asking him to report to the Old Yundum police station. He said this caller told the brother (Colley) to connect him through his mobile phone when he reaches the station so that he (caller) could talk to the station officer (SO). He said this was around the time when his brother was about to go to the mosque to perform his ‘Maghrib’ (twilight) prayers.
The source further explained that they accompanied Mr. Colley to the station and that while they were there, their brother called the said caller from Bansang to talk to the police they met there and who later asked him to hand over all his personal belongings e.g. mobile phone, wrist watch, rosary beads, etc., and enter the cell. He said the brother then complied with this police order.
“After our brother was put in the police cell on that Thursday night, we then returned home to be able to come back the next day,” said the source.
The close family source said when they returned to the station around 7am the next day on Friday, they were told by the police officers they met there that their brother is no longer in their custody.
“We were confused upon hearing this news and when we further enquired, they told us that his whereabouts are not known to them,” added the source.
The source indicated that the family is appealing for the immediate release of their loved one, whose whereabouts they do not know.
Mr. Colley is the ‘chef de garage’ or head of the Brikama-Basse car park in Banjul.
His detention has now exceeded the 72 hours duration in contravention of Section 19 of the second republican Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia.
When the police Public Relation Officer (PRO) ASP LaminNjie was called to enquire about the issue, he told this reporter that he was going to find out and get back to him.
However, as we went to press, the police PRO did not get back to the reporter.
