By: Foday Manneh
In the early hours of Friday morning, an altercation erupted between the Police and Military officers stationed in Basse, Upper River Region, over an issue of a traffic offense, as TAT gathers.
Reportedly, a traffic police officer involved in the incident revealed that he was ‘physically assaulted by an Army Officer who obstructed him from doing his work.
He said, “I stopped a particular civilian riding a motorcycle and then asked him his particulars(papers) while the motorcyclist was carrying a soldier behind him. So when he stopped, the man (soldier) behind asked him to go, and I told him no, he has to stop.”
“The man was forcing the motorcycle rider to go because he was carrying him, and I also insisted since I was doing my job. Then, he furiously punched me in my face, and I retaliated accordingly. As a result, he was arrested and taken to the police station in Basse,” Yaya Bayo, the police officer involved in the brawl, told Alkamba Times Regional Correspondent.
Photo Credit: Gambia Connect TV
In a distinct narration, the police officers at the station say they were assaulted by the military officers who came and forced their way into the station, hitting their tables and physically abusing them.
“I don’t know who called the Army Camp, but minutes later, we show the military officers came with their pick-up at the station and forced their way into the station to get their man,” Bayo added.
However, the camp commander at the Basse Army barracks, Colonel Sarjo Jarjue described the brawl as a minor misunderstanding between the two sister security forces. At the same time, he urged the public to go on with their activities calmly and assured them they would maintain peaceful co-existence.
He says the matter has been resolved amicably by the ‘high commands’ of both parties involved.
The Army Officer involved in the altercation was confirmed to be a Navy Officer who was consequently released from detention following the intervention of his colleagues.
