By: Kemo Kanyi
Several families in Banyaka village were on Thursday ordered to vacate their homes following an operation reportedly carried out by officials from the Ministry of Justice of The Gambia and escorted by personnel of the Gambia Police Force.
According to residents, about five families were affected by the eviction order.
Mamadou Salieu Jallow, one of the affected residents, told reporters that two individuals were arrested during the operation and taken to Banjul, where they were later shown a document they said they could not understand due to illiteracy.
Jallow said they were informed that the land they occupy did not legally belong to them but rather to Ansumana Gassama, who is said to reside in Tallinding.
“We acquired our properties from Ansumana Sanneh about eight years ago. Some people came here with police officers, handcuffed us and took us to the Sheriff Division in Banjul,” he said.
According to Jallow, the team that carried out the operation was led by an officer identified as Modou from the Sheriff Division.
“When we arrived in Banjul, we were not given clear information. We were told the land legally belongs to Mr Gassama, who had earlier won a court case against Ansumana Sanneh,” he added.
Jallow said he purchased his plot of land in 2018 for D75,000, which he paid in installments to Sanneh, who had claimed that he acquired the land from the people of Jambur village.
Another resident, Saikou Drammeh, also affected by the eviction order, said he bought his property from Sanneh in 2020 for D100,000.
Drammeh said he was shocked by the development, claiming that he was asked to leave his home without prior notice and that his belongings were removed from the house.
“I am in distress and disbelief. My belongings were thrown out and I was told to vacate the house,” he said.
The affected residents have called on the authorities to review the decision, noting that they have been living peacefully in the area until the dispute resurfaced.
Efforts to reach Ansumana Sanneh and the Sheriff Division for comment were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.
