Seedy Mukhtar Touray, Inspector General of Police, has vowed a war against insults and hate speech against political figures including the president. 

Touray was speaking at a press conference held at the police headquarters in Banjul as he clocks 90 days in office as the country’s police chief. 

He replaced Abdoulie Sayang who was promoted to the role of the country’s interior minister in a government major cabinet overhaul three months ago.

Before his appointment, IGP Touray was serving as the director general of the Gambia Immigration Department. 

He vowed to tackle crimes and indecent behaviours of people in the country, describing them as “alien” to the norms and culture of the country.

“When I was young growing up in the village, if an elderly person sees the child of someone else doing something that’s bad, that parent will discipline that individual. If you cry and go back to your house and report to your parents that someone flogged you, they will thank the person for discipling you. 

“But we are completely deviating from that and I don’t think society will be kind to us if we continue with what we have now.”

“Issues around diatribe, violent rhetoric, insulting our elders, insulting our leaders must have to desist in this country. 

“And I am saying that there will be no selective justice. Rule for one is the rule for all. And if anyone dares to challenge this statement from the Inspector General of Police as soon as we finish this press briefing you can go on air and start insulting elders in this country. We will not relent; we will execute our functions as law enforcement officers of this country,” he said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba