By Ousman A. Marong
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| Alleged ex-Jugular Lamin Senghore(Photo Credit TRRC) |
Lamin Senghore, an ex-member of the former president’s hit-squad known as the jungulars of the defunct National Intelligence Agency (NIA) now changed to SIS, has denied participating in any torture of civilians and soldiers arrested by the previous government.
“Sir I can tell you that I have never participated in any beating or torture of civilians and soldiers during their interrogation at the NIA,” he remarked.
He revealed that he has never seen or participated in any torture or beating during his services as the security officer at the Gambia Armed Forces and at the NIA or the NDEA (drug squad).
Senghore, nicknamed “The Assassin”, made these remarks on the ongoing Truth, Reconciliaton and Reparations Commission (TRRC) at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi.
Further testifying on the allegations of torture of soldiers at Mile 2 prison, Senghore admitted being part of a group of soldiers headed by then Sergeant Alagie Martins (Brig. Gen). He said Martins led the team of torturers but he has never tortured any person at Mile 2 prison.
“They were tortured by kicking, slapping and beating,” the witness confirmed.
He said it was at this time he pleaded to Martins to allow him to take charge of RSM Baboucar Sanyang (now a Lieutenant-Colonel in the GAF), RSM Fatty and one Musa Colley.
“I did not torture them,” the witness said.
A video of RSM Sanyang’s testimony before the TRRC was played where he was giving an account of his torture at Mile II prison by Martins and his men including the witness.
“His (Sanyang’s) testimony is incorrect,” the witness said adding that as far as he could remember, he has only witnessed the torture of the first-badge of detainees at Mile II by Martins and his men.
“The Assassin means killer. You claimed that you have never participated in any torture or killing, yet they call you “The Assassin,” it means you don’t deserve the name “assassin,” the Lead Counsel Essa Faal told the witness.
“Yes. I have never participated in the killing or torture of any soldier,” the witness replied.
He said some years after the November 11, 1994 incident, he was part of a team of soldiers trained on counter-terrorism. He said the training lasted for about 4 months.
“Was that the jungulars training,” asked the Lead Counsel.
“Yes, it was,” the witness responded, adding that they were not taught to be killers but neutralize a defensive mechanism.
With a series of questions and answers between the Lead Counsel and the witness, he admitted that they were trained to be killers.
“I have never participated in the jungulars operations,” the witness stated.
He said in the year 2007, he joined the National Intelligence Agency as a security guard and later was promoted to be an operative under the Operations Unit at the NIA under one Edrisa Jobe popularly known as Alagie Morr.
“I have never participated in the torture of any person at the NIA,” the witness repeated, adding that he left the NIA and joined the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency- Gambia (NDLEA).
He said at the Drug Squad, he has never participated in the torture of any person. Senghore told the Commission that he has never done any trainings in relation to interrogation.
“How would you rate your success then?” Counsel Faal inquired.
“The rate of my success was very high,” the witness replied.
It was at this point that the Lead Counsel emphasized to the witness that lying before the Commission has consequences and if it is found out that he was lying, then he will face the consequences for lying.
“Would you maintain your testimony?” the Lead Counsel asked.
“Yes. I maintain my testimony as correct,” the witness replied.
He revealed that he has never seen or participated in any torture or beating during his services as the security officer at the Gambia Armed Forces and at the NIA or the NDEA (drug squad).
Senghore, nicknamed “The Assassin”, made these remarks on the ongoing Truth, Reconciliaton and Reparations Commission (TRRC) at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi.
Further testifying on the allegations of torture of soldiers at Mile 2 prison, Senghore admitted being part of a group of soldiers headed by then Sergeant Alagie Martins (Brig. Gen). He said Martins led the team of torturers but he has never tortured any person at Mile 2 prison.
“They were tortured by kicking, slapping and beating,” the witness confirmed.
He said it was at this time he pleaded to Martins to allow him to take charge of RSM Baboucar Sanyang (now a Lieutenant-Colonel in the GAF), RSM Fatty and one Musa Colley.
“I did not torture them,” the witness said.
A video of RSM Sanyang’s testimony before the TRRC was played where he was giving an account of his torture at Mile II prison by Martins and his men including the witness.
“His (Sanyang’s) testimony is incorrect,” the witness said adding that as far as he could remember, he has only witnessed the torture of the first-badge of detainees at Mile II by Martins and his men.
“The Assassin means killer. You claimed that you have never participated in any torture or killing, yet they call you “The Assassin,” it means you don’t deserve the name “assassin,” the Lead Counsel Essa Faal told the witness.
“Yes. I have never participated in the killing or torture of any soldier,” the witness replied.
He said some years after the November 11, 1994 incident, he was part of a team of soldiers trained on counter-terrorism. He said the training lasted for about 4 months.
“Was that the jungulars training,” asked the Lead Counsel.
“Yes, it was,” the witness responded, adding that they were not taught to be killers but neutralize a defensive mechanism.
With a series of questions and answers between the Lead Counsel and the witness, he admitted that they were trained to be killers.
“I have never participated in the jungulars operations,” the witness stated.
He said in the year 2007, he joined the National Intelligence Agency as a security guard and later was promoted to be an operative under the Operations Unit at the NIA under one Edrisa Jobe popularly known as Alagie Morr.
“I have never participated in the torture of any person at the NIA,” the witness repeated, adding that he left the NIA and joined the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency- Gambia (NDLEA).
He said at the Drug Squad, he has never participated in the torture of any person. Senghore told the Commission that he has never done any trainings in relation to interrogation.
“How would you rate your success then?” Counsel Faal inquired.
“The rate of my success was very high,” the witness replied.
It was at this point that the Lead Counsel emphasized to the witness that lying before the Commission has consequences and if it is found out that he was lying, then he will face the consequences for lying.
“Would you maintain your testimony?” the Lead Counsel asked.
“Yes. I maintain my testimony as correct,” the witness replied.
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