Gambian anti-narcotic boss dismissed

Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, has extended his so-called electric broom to another of the countries security institutions with the sacking of the Executive Director of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), Ebrima Bun Sanneh, and his deputy, Bakary Bojang.
A presidential statement contained in a press release and aired over state owned Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) announced the sacking of the top officials alongside the Commissioner of Operations of the same agency, Ousman Sanneh. According to the statement, announced Friday 5th March 2010, the dismissal of the men was with immediate effect. No reasons were forwarded.
The removal of Gambia’s anti-narcotic boss comes just three (3) days after the high profile sacking of the country’s formerly influential police chief, Ensa Badjie. All this has been part of a string of sacking in the country’s security sector, which has seen the arrest and detention of top security officials, including former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lang Tombong Tamba.
According to sources, the sacked NDEA boss and his deputy have joined the list of detained former security officials in Mile II prisons. They were reportedly handed over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for interrogations before been transferred to Mile II.
Both the former NDEA boss, Bun Sanneh and former IGP Ensa Badjie have had a fair share of extensive criticism for their alleged involvement with known criminals and drug dealers in the country. Sources informed Jollof News that Sanneh and Bojang underwent questioning for the same reason.
Former IGP pleaded to be taken to court
The reported arrest of all these men has neither been officially acknowledged, nor has any reason been forwarded for their continued detention without any formal charges by the authorities. This disturbing trend has sparked heightened concern among the entirety of the Gambian populace, especially those who have relations across the security sector.
But there is also a parallel feeling of lack of sympathy among a section of the population who largely blame the security for what is happening to them. It has emerged that many of them follow orders even though they know it is not inline with the constitution. For instance, the former IGP, Ensa Badjie, who has presided over numerous arrests and detention of opponents of the regime without charges, reportedly told his arresters to ‘‘ take me to court before dumping me in Mile II.’’ This, according to observers, indicates Jesus’ knowledge of what it means to be detained in Gambia.
Transfer of ministerial portfolios
In a similar development, the Gambian president has also ordered the transfer of the Religious Affairs, which had hitherto been part of his accruing portfolios, to the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources. And National Assembly Matters has been transferred from the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources to the Ministry of Forestry and the Environment. All this was contained in a news release from the office of the President signed by the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Njogu Bah, according to news monitored over GRTS.