Daranka 5 released

The five people who were arrested at Lamin Daranka Village by personnel of the Gambia Police Force following a dispute, were on Monday conditionally released.

The five reportedly occupied a land belonging to one Mbemba Bojang, who claimed that he had inherited the plot from his forefathers. But the men insisted that they got the land from the Ceesay Kunda clan in Lamin.

 In an interview with the Daily Observer shortly after their release, Musa Manneh, one of the ex-detainees said, they were released on the condition that none of them would abscond. Mr Manneh added that the police did not inform them of any charge.

According to Manneh, they have made several attempts to amicably resolve the matter, including a visit to the Office of the Western Region governor.

He then insisted: “This land belongs to us. Even if we were tenants, we are entitled to a notice before any eviction. But we were just asked to leave our houses without a justifiable reason.”

Abdoulie Jatta, another victim of the eviction, expressed disappointment with the manner in which they were evicted, describing it as unacceptable.