Youth Matter: My story

My name is Lamin M Hassan, a Sierra leonean,  born in 31/12/79.

I started smoking in 1998, when the national army was banned by Tejan Kabbah. The Kamajors were brought to stay at Brook Fields Hotel, where I was staying in order to protect the city, Freetown. Because I  did not  want them to be suspicious of  me, I associated with them in every way possible. When I became addicted to cocaine and heroine my family did everything possible to help me but to no avail.

In 2005, my sister, Ya Umu Hassan in USA thought a change of environment will help me. She sent $1000 and on the 4th June,2005, I arrived in The Gambia. Due to problems beyond my control, in less than a month, I smoked all I have and I moved to stay at Mr Bidwell’s compound which is about 250m from Serrekunda Police Station. My family were informed and they stopped sending me money.  On the 17th of April, 2007, Mr Bidwell,  AKA  Boy Bansang’s compound was raided and over 50 people were arrested and  the next day, they were taken to Kanifing court and one  Little as he was called, tesfied against Mr Bidwell and Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh gave orders for Mr Bidwell’s arrest.  

Mr Bidwell and  others were sent to Mile 2  prison where they spent one month before they were   released.  After their release, Mr Bidwell gave plenty kilos of cocaine and heroine to Ousman Jatta aka Eto, to start a new business at his mother-in-law’s house, which is 150m from Mr Bidwell’s home. Mr Bidwell also link his brother-in- law, Sheriff Ceesay, who is a former solder to join Ousman Jatta in the new business. Considering the situation at the time and the nature of the business, Ousman Jatta and Sheriff Ceesay decided to hold on the business and refused to pay Mr Bidwell all his money. I was employed by Sheriff Ceesay in the new business premises as a security guard at the second gate. It was during this period I realized   my life is not worth living.

I went to Banjul Polyclinic at the psychiatric unit where I met Dr Maria, who examined me and referred me to Dr Blangita, who gave me flower therapy. The medicines were good but because I was staying at the Junky yard, they became useless. On the fifth of July, 2008, God answered my prayers after I was caught stealing a tin of Nescafe at ELTON supermarket at Westfield. I was taken to Serrekunda Police Station and the next day to Kanifing court. Magistrate Bouba Jawo gave me 3 months imprisonment or a fine of D500. After a month in prison, I had a fight with an inmate in cell 3 as a result, I was transferred to confinement where I made friendship with Pierre Mendy and Mohammed Jah, who eventually asked  his wife, Arret Jah to pay my fine. The following Tuesday, she paid my fine and I was released.

Considering all I have been through, I have made up my mind to do the things that are in accordance  with God’s will. On the 1st of March, 2009, I saw an article on the Daily Observer advertising International Children’s Day of Broadcasting. These  were some of the topics on the agenda: discipline, children’s protection against sexual abuse and exploitation, "Almudu" syndrome, child apprentices etc. I got in touch with their coordinator, Modou who invited me at the rehearsal at Unique FM where I had the opportunity to address few students including the proprietor of Unique FM,  Lamin Manga, on the topic: Drug abuse.

Mr Manga invited me to join the Young People in the   Media the following day. I took along a Junky friend, Emanuel Ferguson aka Saul, and two students. During the talk show, I explaind how Mr Bidwell was arrested and released and how they expanded the business instead of closing the business. Few days after our program on Unique FM, Pa Modou, one police officer and one prison officer, whom I identified as Sergeant Manga, came to the Youth for Christ residence. Pa Modou said I am wanted at the Serrekunda Police Station for buying a stolen phone. On my arrival, I was taken to an office where I met Mr Bougham who told me he is a chief of operation officer. I explained to him how much drug abuse has affected my life.  He acknowledged the fact that I have a reason to protect against Drug abuse but advised me to stay away from this drug dealers and soon after our discussion he released me.  

On the 14th of March 2009, I was invited at Paradise Radio Station by the president of the Science Club of the University of The Gambia to talk on drug abuse. Few days later, I was told by Emanuel ferguson that he was paid D1,500 to show the police my house because he is the only one who knows my house and D100 by Mr Bougham himself for a job well done. As a result of this, I believed that my invitation to the police was a failed plot against me.  At that point in time I thought it was wise to let the people of this country to know what is going on in this regard. Also I want especially the youth to know that there is something in our midst; no matter your personality or credibility, if you smoke it you will loose everything; that is cocaine and heroine.

Presently it is my greatest desire to contribute to drug awareness in this country and around the world at large. I want to remind the people of this country that drug abuse is a life time problem. The bottom line of the solution is to have discussion on the topic, drug abuse on every radio station, drama  in schools in order to raise the awareness and a modern rehabilitation center in The Gambia.