By: Nicholas Bass
Brikama Magistrates’ Court premises Thursday witnessed drama as an accused attempted to grab the steering wheel of prison vehicle and tried to escape but he was nabbed on the spot.
According to Mariama Sonko, a court clerk at Brikama Magistrates’ Court and one of the key witnesses to the incident narrated how Ebou Secka, an accused robber wanted to overpower the prison driver of a minivan belonging to Mile Two Central Prison and attempted to speed away.
The court clerk told the Voice Newspaper that Sacka knocked the driver in order to have access to the vehicle and tried to escape with the Mile Two Prison vehicle before he was overpowered by the prison officers.
The clerk lamented that if the accused had succeeded in his attempt of taking the prison vehicle he might have claimed many lives as many people were standing around the vehicle at the time.
According to her, when Secka [accused] attempted to knock the prison driver, he collided with a porch from the prison driver, eventually both men fell on the ground, thereafter, the accused tried to run away but was captured by other prison officers.
Also, speaking to this paper was ASP Lamin Kanteh of Brikama Area Council an orderly to BAC chairperson. He said at the time of the tension at the crime scene, he had to rush his officers to the scene as that was part of their duty; to maintain peace and order.
ASP Kanteh explained that they [BAC officers] wanted to make sure the accused who wanted to escape was handcuffed and brought before the court.
According to ASP Kanteh the accused wanted to overpower the prison driver but the driver was focused when he realized the accused’s attempt wherein, he held the steering wheel of the vehicle, so that he could have absolute control over the situation.
‘’With the help of our officers we overcame the accused and he was taken back to Mile Two Central Prison,’’ ASP Kanteh said.
Going further ASP Kanteh advised everyone to respect officers, stressing that the security officers play a very important role in maintaining peace and order in The Gambia.