Breaking News: Kukoi S. Sanyang, Sheriffba Jobe & Mohammed Sowe
Escape Death
By Ebrima G. Sankareh Editor In-Chief
According to highly placed sources at the UNHCR Bureau in Guinea Bissau, Messrs: Kukoi Samba Sanyang, Sheriffba Jobe and Mohammed Sowe have escaped from prison in Guinea Bissau after almost one year in maximum military detention. It can be recalled that before the 2006 presidential elections in The Gambia, the trio were apprehended by the Bissau authorities and subsequently detained at the Masuang Military Camp in the interior of the impoverished West African State.
While no one could establish the exact circumstances surrounding their arrest, many alleged that the trio, led by the leader of the July 1981 abortive coup d’etat in The Gambia, Kukoi Samba Sanyang, were poised to attack Jammeh’s Presidential convoy in the prelude to the elections and then seize power. Others still alleged that Kukoi Samba Sanyang, who had south refuge in Libya, fought in Liberia and Burkina Faso might have tricked them into the idea of seizing power only to betray them and have Jammeh execute the duo. Some press reports suggested that the trio may have been handed over to the Jammeh government and subsequently executed. Some said Kukoi was at large.
Late last month our Dakar correspondent Alpha Jallow was in Bissau to investigate the trio’s fate but no one would let him see the men. We had earlier asked Alpha to contact a Madam Yolanda who works at the UHHCR Dakar office but she declined to comment. “I do not talk to journalist about detainees” she told the Echo.
Meanwhile, President Yahya Jammeh had spent close to three million US dollars just to have the Bissau authorities extradite the men. According to our source, “President Jammeh had sent 26 vehicles, a cargo of rice and millions of dollars to President Nino Vieira and his ministers to hand over Kukoi Samba Sanyang, Sowe and Jobe to The Gambia.” “In one instance” reveals our source, “ Brigadier General Lang Tombong Tamba was dispatched with so much wealth just to fly them home but it just could not work.” According to our source, Ms. Yolanda had traveled to Bissau trice but the authorities would not let her see the detained men. “Mr. Sankareh, every indication was that the officials were eventually going to bow down to Jammeh’s pressure, the dollars, the flashy cars and SUVs amid the glaring poverty of this state and have them extradited for the gallows” laments our most competent source.
While the circumstances of their escape are as mysterious as their arrest, we can share only these scanty details.It was announced late Thursday that the Army Chief of Staff was traveling and there was fear that once out of the country, his subordinates may take money from Jammeh and hand over the trio. At the same time, the Army Chief and the Justice Minister are not the best of friends. So in the wee hours of Friday morning, Kukoi, Jobe and Sowe were woken up from their cells and transferred to the Justice ministry for trial so that no one would subsequently blame the Army Chief in case some thing sinister happens while he was away. As they arrived at the Justice Department in Bissau, the officials went into a heated argument. The Justice Minister refused to accept the trio. According to him, the matter was beyond his jurisdiction. As the argument intensified, some one quickly called the UNHCR office and explained that the detainees were in the capital. The UNHCR wasted no time and within the twinkle of an eye, a UN vehicle had arrived at the scene. (The rest is history!) The men were then hurriedly flown aboard a Dakar bound Air Senegal flight that landed safely in Dakar this Saturday morning. As we went to press, some competent authorities are reportedly debriefing Kukoi Samba Samba Sanyang Vis -a-Vis his role in their ordeal. Jobe and Sowe are under UN jurisdiction because both were accorded refugee status prior to their arrest. According to our source even senior officials in the Bissau government did not know of the operation and how these men escaped. President Jammeh and his NIA do not even have the slightest clue says our most dependable source. According to our sources, this development is a great day for justice and are grateful to all those who participated to rescue these men from the bloodthirsty government of Yahya Jammeh who is currently in Cuba visiting Fidel Castro. (Say tuned to The Echo for details on this story)