National Human Rights Commission has told the police to respect the rights and freedoms of Neneh Freda Gomez and Lamin Sey who are detained over a property dispute in Bijilo. 

The property is currently occupied by Police Anti-Crime Unit and the pair had already won a landmark case against the police in the High Court. 

The rights commission chairman Emmanuel Joof said: “The NHRC hereby calls upon The Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to respect the rights and freedoms of Neneh Freda Gomez and Lamin Sey as guaranteed by the 1997 Constitution and to avoid actions that compromise the enjoyment of their human rights and freedoms.”

“We hereby urged the Inspector General of Police to immediately and unconditionally release both Nenneh Freda Gomez and Lamin Sey,” he added.

According to Mr Joof, while his office acknowledges the important role of law enforcement in the protection of life and property, their conduct should be in line with the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

“Law enforcers have an obligation to respect and fulfil the fundamental human rights of people, and to duly respect and enforce Court decisions and judgments,” he said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba