The details of whereabouts of missing journalist, Ebrima Chief Manneh, had been revealed to the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission.

Pa Ousman Darboe, a journalist who was investigating the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh, had revealed to told the Commission the circumstances that led to the journalist arrest and subsequent disappearance in the country.

He said that the missing journalist was picked up by plain-clothed officers at the Daily Observer offices in July 2006.

Mr Darboe alleged that former Daily Observer Manager, Dr. Saja Taal, had reported Chief Manneh to senior officials at the NIA over his attempt to publish a BBC story critical of former president Jammeh during the AU summit in 2006.

The said story was written by a BBC Focus on Africa and Ghanaian journalist, Elizabeth Ohene.

Mr Darboe revealed that Chief Manneh was tasked with overseeing the paper’s international page at the time.

“On that particular day, he (Chief Manneh) downloaded a story that pointed out the irony that the African foreign ministers were to discuss a charter on good governance and democracy in Africa at the AU summit in 2006 in a country that was neither democratic nor practiced good governance.

“In fact, that article was printed but never published because we felt that the story would not go well with Dr. Taal and his agenda of promoting Jammeh’s welfare and the APRC. So we decided as a team to take that portion from the publication and keep it in our store.”

Mr Darboe said when Dr Taal was informed about the unpublished story, he reported Chief Manneh to the NIA.

He said two plain-clothed officers including one Sheriff Sey picked “Chief Manneh on a Sunday at the Observer and told him that he was needed at the Bakau police station for questioning.

“When we insisted on joining him, Chief asked us to stay to avoid any problems.

“They took him to Bakau police station and after some moments, we decided to go and look for him but we were told he was taken to the NIA.”

Mr Darboe revealed that he conducted an investigation into Manneh’s disappearance in the many secret detention facilities dotted all across the country. He said he visited all the police stations and detention centers where Manneh was sighted including Sibanor, Gunjur, Bundung, Sare Ngai and Fatoto amongst others.

He alleged that one Yahya Dampha visited the Fatoto police station with an official of the Amnesty International where he saw Chief Manneh being escorted by a police officer to have his lunch.

But even then the police insisted he was not in their custody and arrested both Yahya Dampha and the Amnesty International official.

He said Dr. Taal was infuriated when a family member of Chief visited the Observer to ask about his whereabouts. He added that the meeting between the two didn’t go well.

“Taal ordered the security guard at the Observer that he did not want to see any family member of Chief and they must not be allowed in.”

Mr Darboe also alleged that Chief Manneh was severely beaten by the then governor of the Upper River Division (URD) and reportedly admitted at the RVTH and later transferred to a military medics unit.

He told the Commission that Chief Manneh died somewhere in Garawol or Basse police station and was buried near the station.

Ousman Darboe, who now resides in Seattle, USA, was among the Gambian journalists who testified at the Ecowas Court against the Gambia government on the Chief Manneh disappearance case.