Confirmed reports said he was fired yesterday, although no reasons have been advanced for the move. But the Gambian leader had earlier claimed to have got an “electric broom” to sweep civil and public officials found wanting.

Mr Mboob was the former Director of Immigration until his appointment as the police chief in November last year.

He was replaced by a law graduate, Benedict Jammeh. Mr Jammeh returned home from the United Kingdom barely two months ago.

The fired police chief took over from Major Ousman Sonko who was elevated to the rank of Interior Minister following the firing of Baboucarr Jatta.

Until his ministerial appointment, Mr Jatta had served as The Gambia’s longest serving Army Chief of Staff since President Jammeh took over power in a military coup in 1994.