Gambian soldier admits taking part in murder of journalist
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - A Gambian army officer suspected of assassinating Deyda Hydara, a journalist, in December 2004 has admitted taking part in the crime.
Lieutenant Malick Jatta of the Gambian Armed Forces made the confession at the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) here Monday.
He confessed to shooting 'the magic pen' - the name used by the leader of his group, Tumbul Tamba, to describe the late Hydara
He told the commission that Hydara was shot and killed by members of the Gambia military under the directive of exiled ex-President Yahya Jammeh.
He said his co assassin Sana Manjang first opened fire on Hydara, who was dropping off his staff on the night of his paper’s anniversary near the Police Intervention Unit base in Kanifing.
Jatta said he participated in so many killings during Jammeh’s rule, including the killing of one Dawda Nyassi, a resident of Bakoteh, who was placed under state surveillance, following reports that he was among returnees of former president Charles Taylor’s fighters in Liberia.
He further told the commission Nyassi was lured outside by a friend, kidnapped by him (Jatta) and his group and murdered at the outskirts of the Banjul international airport.
Jatta revealed that Jammeh allegedly instructed them to take the life of Hydara, the soldier alleged:
“We were instructed by President Yahya Jammeh on the eve of the Point Newspaper anniversary back in December 16th 2004, to shoot and kill the paper’s Managing Editor Deyda Hydara.
“We rode on three taxi vehicles owned by President Jammeh, which was allocated to our team to execute the mission to take the life of Mr. Hydara. I was part of the team that followed Mr. Hydara, and the other passengers on board his vehicle at the material time.
“I was accompanied by Major Sana Manjang, ex-Army Colonel Kawsu Camara, alias Bombaredeh), Warrant Officer Bai Lowe, and co while former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko coordinated the entire operation.”
The soldier alleged that Jammeh plotted the murder scheme of Hydara in such a way that it would not look like the government carried out the incident.
In doing so, the president allegedly armed them with a local handgun which was not used by the Gambian military.
He noted the bullets that killed Hydara were usually used by local hunters, adding that the Gambian military did not use such bullets or handguns.
-0- PANA MSS/RA 22Jul2019
