Bakawsu |
Mr.
Omar Fofana, a younger brother to disappeared Gambian Imam, Bakawsu Fofana has
told The
Voice that he spoke to the
imam on phone two days after his disappearance on August 14.
Omar
said: “I only communicated with him once on the phone on Thursday. He promised
to come out when he finish his special prayers (after the Eidul Fitr – Muslim
feast).”
“He
told me that he has entrusted me with the responsibility of the family until he
comes back,” Omar added.
The
renowned Imam, Bakawsu Fofana was reported to have disappeared during attempts
by the state’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) operatives to arrest him at
his home on Tuesday.
His
younger brother explain that state agents drove in a double-cabin pickup into
the family residence in Sanchaba Sulay Jobe, Kombo North district of the West
Coast Region between 9 and 11pm with the intention of whisking away the imam.
“Men
in plainclothes came to the compound, while we were praying. They asked for Ba
Kawsu and demanded to see him while he was inside the Mosque,” he narrated.
“After completing his prayers, the officers met him and were heard talking to
him, and even laughing inside the Mosque.”
“After a few minutes, they inform him he was
wanted for questioning at the NIA headquarters.
Bakawsu
told them that he was performing special night prayers for 30 days, and would
not want to miss it; and besides the day was Lailatul Kadr (Night of Power),”
Omar further explained. “He begged the officers to allow him to complete his
mission. That he’ll report for questioning after the Muslim feast.”
But
the NIA officers insisted that he must go with them. After few minutes, Bakawsu
accepted and asked them to allow him enter his room, after which he was nowhere
to be seen, Omar said. Another team of NIA officers on board a tinted glass
Pajero also arrived. They demanded to see Bakawsu, saying they have a special
message for him from the authorities.
According
to Omar, they waited for some time and without traces of Bakawsu, they
“handcuffed me and forced into a pickup vehicle only to be freed upon arrival
at Bakoteh, few minutes’ drive from Sanchaba.”
They
warned me to stop interfering when my brother is being arrested, Omar said.
The
Imam had earlier been arrested on May 31, 2012 for unexplained reasons and was
detained 10 days. He was granted bail and was reporting to the NIA before this
latest attempted arrest.
It
is an open secret that the Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) and the Jammeh
administration take a dim view of Bakawsu Fofana’s style of propagation.
Last
year, the SIC invited the Imam in a meeting and banned him from preaching in
public, including sermons at religious gatherings – at his Mosque, naming
ceremonies and also to stop using radio stations and newspapers. In that
meeting, his preaching records on sale in the market were also banned.
A
similar meeting was organised by president Jammeh at State House in Banjul
during which the ban was lifted but at a price of degrading comments against
the Imam and strict warnings to desist from allegations of inciting
hatred.
Source: The Voice
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