By Adama Makasuba
Alhagie Kanyi, former corporal of Gambia National Army, has admitted that he had taking part in the killing of former Secretary of State for Finance Ousman Koro Ceesay, Sergeant Basiru Camara and Sergeant Fafa Nyang and mass killing of alleged November 11 coup plotters.
Giving his recounts before the Truth Reparation and Reconciliation Commission, he said that he and Lt Edwrad Singhateh, Lt Yankuba Touray, Lt Peter Singhateh, Lt BK, Lt Tumbul Tamba and Pa Alieu Gomez each hit Ousman Koro Ceesay with pestle.
“As we were entering in Yankuba Touray’s compound I heard sound…Edward Singhateh hit Koro Ceesay with a pestle three times and he fell down and he gave me a stick and I hit Koro and then Yankuba also hit him with Peter and the rest were called to join and hit Koro. There was blood all over the place and Koro was taken into his official car,” he said.
He said on the date Edward told him that are going get rid off one cont, and Koro’s body was then drove by the council members and burnt, adding that Peter developed burning on his hand.
“I was confused and I was even in a hurry to resign from the army even if I am going to beg at the time I said I will leave the army. Edward used to give me alcohol to drink and he would say to me drink and calm down your pressure. I drink alcohol to calm down my pressure.
Where I am now please council please help me now I will pray for God’s forgiveness. Jarra People please forgive me, Gambian people please forgive me. I am under high blood pressure,” he said in tears.
According to him, before coming to the commission Yankuba calls him and told him not worried about anything and also told him not and mind the commission that they are the ring leader, adding Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay also did call him and say such words to him and asked him whether his mother is around and said yes, then Jahumpa told him to seek her prayers.
Meanwhile, Kanyi also pleaded guilty of taking part in the killings of Sergeant Basiru Camara and Sergeant Fafa Nyang at the Yundum barracks, explaining that they (decease) were tight naked and escorted by Sanna Sabally and Edward Singhateh around the cook house at the barracks.
“I was instructed to kills them by Sanna Sabally and Edward Singhateh and I did Sir. I and Edward fired at them. I was instructed to kill my own brothers, I have no choice,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also confessed in participating in the mass killing of soldiers alleged to have attempted the November 11, 1994 coup at the Nyambai forest.
“We drove to Nyambai forest like going to Jambur, we went right inside the bush and all the cars packed and the truck came. The cover was removed from their face and taken off the truck.
They gave us their back and Sanna Sabally asked them to say their last prayers. But cadet Sillah said Sir if you are to kill us, kill us with help weapon while Buba Jammeh appealed that ‘Sir don’t kill us lock us in jail, Sanna gave us order to fire at them and we fired at them,” he said.
He revealed that those that participated in the mass killings of the soldiers are namel; Lieutenant Sanna Sabally, Lt Edward Singhateh, Lt Yankuba Touray and Lt Sadibu Hyadara all council members and Batch Samba Jallow, Lamin Fatty, colonel Babourcarr Jatta, Private Suso, B Njie, JB Mendy, Baba Njie alias B Njie and Njie Ponkal.
Mr. Kanyi now with the Gambia Immigration added that the soldiers killed during the execution included, Lt Gibril Seye, Lamin Darboe, Bakary Manneh, Abdoulie Bah, Cadet Amadou Sillah, and Buba Jammeh.
