Echo Exclusive on Banta Kaira’s Arrest; Arms or Rice? Economic Crime or Coup Scare?

By EBRIMA G. SANKAREH Editor-In-Chief

Rice Gambia's staple food

EVER SINCE news of the arrest and detention of Gambian business tycoon and General Manager of JIMPEX Banta Kaira and one business consultant Dodou Jobe last Monday followed later by the arrest and subsequent detention of two high profile Police officers, Messrs: Burama Dibba, Crime Management Co-ordinator and Ebrima Kunji Jammeh Serious Crimes Commander, The Gambia Echo has been working the phone lines and we are now able to report our findings.

Unassailable sources within the corridors of state power are now unraveling the true story and character of the latest high profile arrest of two businessmen and two senior police officers by the authoritarian regime of President Yahya Jammeh. All four are detained incommunicado at the country’s infamous Mile II Prisons for about a week now.

According to our highly placed sources, Banta Kaira who is a major importer of basic commodities especially, Gambia’s staple diet-rice, is alleged to have ordered a large consignment of the staple and once the ship docked at The Gambia Ports Authority, Kaira allegedly diverted the entire consignment to neighboring Guinea Bissau where it is alleged, the shrewd tycoon anticipated much more profit than his native Gambia. This according to our sources, is perceived by the powers that be, as calculated economic sabotage especially, at a time of global food crisis that have sparked angry demonstrations in neighboring Senegal and in some countries resulted to death of demonstrators like in the West African state of Cameroon. However, according to our sources, that allegation depends on whether the alleged shipment and or diversion of rice were entirely true. Reveals a highly competent and highly authoritive source, the caution is premised on a more scary tale that in actuality, the ship was allegedly loaded with large quantities of AK-47 machines guns, rocket launchers, and several other military paraphernalia and were diverted to Guinea Bissau only after what our source described as “failure to discreetly unload the arms shipment.” Asked who may have ordered the military equipment, our source said, “it was allegedly, meant for private use.” Whose private use? “I don’t know” our source said emphatically. “What I do know” our source said, “is that Police Commissioner Burama Dibba who is the Crime Management Co-ordinator of The Gambia Police Force and his colleague Ebrima Kunji Jammeh who is the Commanding Officer of the Serious Crime Unit were arrested and detained at Mile II Prisons following damning allegations that they were wanting in the execution of their duties which may have allegedly, led to the escape of a ship that may have posed a lethal threat to Gambia’s national security.” Asked when the four will be charged or released our sources say, the NIA with the help of the Gambian Navy is investigating the story and once investigations are completed, the police can then proceed with their case.

        Genesis of the Banta Kaira & Yahya Jammeh Nexus

Those of us who have been following developments in The Gambia ever since the July 22 1994 coup would recall that in the wee days of the coup that toppled the constitutionally elected government of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, prominent businessmen like Banta Kaira were on center stage. It is no secret that Kaira was the front man in the sale of rice and flour meant for the poor Gambian people from Libya. Rice and other food items that were supposed to be given as food aid (Zakat) were instead, entrusted to Kaira by an illegal regime to sell to Gambians. In the end, he became so close to Baba Jobe; a dude that was so powerful that he was called Co-President. Although there are now conspiracy theories about the alleged arms consignment and diversion vis-à-vis his relationship with Jobe who is serving a nine-year jail term at the same detention facility, we will for now refrain from that theory for a future date. Be that as it may, one thing must be clear to all Gambians across the spectrum-Yahya Jammeh is a very strange political bedfellow. Those who think that they can defy physics and work with him at the expense of Gambians might rethink before it is too late. Who was closer to Yahya Jammeh than Lieutenant Almamo Manneh? Who was closer to Yahya Jammeh than Tumbul Tamba? Who was closer to Yahya Jammeh than Musa Jammeh? Who was closer to Yahya Jammeh than Neneh Macdouall Gaye? Who was closer to Yahya Jammeh than Manlafi Jarjue? Who was closer to Yahya Jammeh than Captains Edward Singhateh, Sana Sabally and Sadibou Haidara? Where are all these characters today? You ponder!