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Gambia News : Exiled Gambian Journalist Alleges Attempted Kidnapping

Yaya Dampha, a former Foroyaa reporter, who is in exile in Senegal, has alleged that on Monday, 10 March, 2008 he escaped an attempt by three men to kidnap him. He told Foroyaa that on that Monday afternoon, two men entered his residence and knocked on his door.

When they asked the other residents of the home for him the two men were told that they did not know his whereabouts. He went on to say that when he came out he was approached by the two men who invited him to go with them to discuss an urgent matter. He said when he refused a third man came whom he claimed he recognized as a security agent. He further alleged that they subsequently tried to force him into a pick up vehicle but he shouted for help. Soon the other residents rushed out and as they did the “kidnappers” quickly jumped into their vehicle and drove off.

Yaya Dampha was one of the witnesses who testified at the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, Nigeria in the case of Chief Ebrima Manneh of Daily Observer, who is said to have been arrested since July, 2006.

Dampha and several other witnesses who testified for the plaintiff, had mentioned five state agents of The Gambia as having played various roles in the arrest and detention of Manneh.

The alleged attempt to kidnap Dampha occurred the day before the agents were expected to appear before the ECOWAS court.

Dampha told MFWA that prior to the attempt, he had been receiving threatening phone calls and his neighbours were also being questioned by agents. Yaya Dampha, has alleged harassment since being arrested along side Amnesty International delegates during a research mission on 6 October 2007. He was released without charge on 12 October, 2007 but repeated visits to his home and harassment of his family members forced him to flee the country soon after.

Amnesty International delegates Tania Bernath and Ayodele Ameen, Foroyaa Newspaper journalist Yaya Dampha, and their driver Lamin Barrow were arrested in the eastern town of Basse on 6 October, 2007, whilst visiting detention centres throughout The Gambia. The four were accused of being spies. After 48 hours in detention both Amnesty International delegates and Yaya Dampha were released on bail but told to remain in the capital, Banjul. All three were unconditionally released without charge on 12 October 2007.