Alieu Gibba, Omar Gibba and Sadibou Bojang of Foni Jalokoto village have been granted bail after villagers clashed with police over wearing face masks on Saturday.

Police say the three were found “not wearing face mask thereby violating the Compulsory Facemask Wearing Regulation 2020” which they say violates the public state of emergency imposed to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Angry villagers could be seen in a video circulating on social media saying “people come out, they are taking our man, please hurry up and come.”

An eyewitness said: “The police were passing and saw the boys seated. They came and said we were not wearing masks so we told them that we are sitting in our homes.

“So, they went and came back again and said they are going to arrest us because we were not wearing face mask, that we refused the order.

The police however say: “The Officers approached the youths with a view to sensitise them on the Covid-19 Regulations but the aggressive youths armed with sticks turned violent.

“Officers then called for reinforcement resulting to the arrest of three individuals who were processed and later granted bail. A cutlass was also recovered from someone at the scene.”

The police have appealed to public to continue supporting and cooperating with the security in stopping, containing and preventing the spread of the coronavirus in the Gambia.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba