Another member of Jammeh’s death squad has confessed to taking part in the killing of 44 West African migrants who were mistaken for mercenaries in 2005 as well as other extra judicial killings.

Omar Jallow, an army officer and a member of the feared Junguler hit squad, told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission on Tuesday that the migrants were killed and dumped in a well near the Senegalese border.

Mr Jallow’s testimony followed that of Lt Malick Jatta who confessed yesterday to the killing of veteran journalist, Deyda Hydara.

On the killing of the 44 migrants, Mr Jallow said he went to Banjul with his unit which included Solo Bojang, Sanna Manjang, Alieu Jeng and Malick Jatta to pick up the alleged West African mercenaries (mainly from Ghana and Nigeria).

He said Sanna Manjang briefed them that there was another group set for the same purpose and they were Lieutenant Colonel Sarjo Jarju, Kawsu Camara alias Bombardier, Bai Lowe, Landing Tamba and others.

Mr Jallow disclosed that the migrants were picked up from Kololi around the Coconut residence and they were taken to Kanilai.

“When we drove to Kanilai, we went behind the fence of the former president and headed to Cassamance.

“When we arrived at this place in Cassamance, Solo stopped the vehicle and we all came down. Solo said these people were mercenaries and he told us that the order from the former head of State (Yahya Jammeh) was to fire at them.

Mr Jallow told the Commission that he participated in the killings but didn’t shoot at any of the victims.

“We will bring the person (alleged mercenaries) around the well and we will shot the person and he will fall in the well,” he said as a matter of fact.

He claimed that he didn’t shoot at any of the victims but said that he was assigned to bringing them around the well.

He alleged that it was Lt Malick Jatta and Sanna Manjang who were shooting at the victims on the orders of the former president Yahya Jammeh.

“Yahya Jammeh ordered for the execution of the foreign nationals,” he said.

“We were transporting them to the firing ground one by one and Sanna Manajang and Malick Jatta were firing at them and throwing them into the well.”

He said it was himself and Alieu Jeng who were picking these captives and taking them one by one to the firing ground where Manjang and Jatta will fire at them.

“There were only two shooters; they were Malick Jatta and Sanna Manajang,” he said.

He said there was no one among the captives who escaped in that operation.

“I was given $100 by one of them who pleaded to me to allow him to say his last prayers but before he completely knelt down, Sanna Manajang fired at him. I eat the $100,” he said.

The witness said the government did not condemn the killings of these foreign nationals.

Omar Jallow also confessed to the killing of Haruna Jammeh, who was a cousin of the former president Yahya Jammeh.

He said he was instructed by Tumbul Tamba to join Solo Bojang and Alieu Jeng to arrest Haruna Jammeh, the former president cousin. He said Haruna Jammeh was taken away to a village near Kanilai. He said they drove to a secluded area near the village and Solo Bojang stopped the vehicle.

“Solo gave me and Jeng a long rope to tie the neck of Haruna Jatta and we tied him. When he fell on the ground, Sanna Manjang stamped on his neck from the car and he died,” he said.

Mr Jallow also confessed his role in the torture of outspoken imams Baba Leigh and Ba Kawusu.

The TRRC sitting continues.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba