Twenty years on since some security operatives of The Gambia used live ammunition on armless students’ protesters that resulted in the death of some students and left dozens of others injured. 

The pain still remained in Abdou Karim Jammeh’s heart, one of the survivors of the brutal police crackdown. 

Mr Jammeh was a 21-year-old student who participated in the nationwide protest staged by students over the killing of Ebrima Barry. Barry, also a student, died few days after being tortured by personnel of the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service. 

 “April 10th/11 was the darkest days of the Gambia and particularly the students of our motherland, this was the day 14 of my colleagues were shoot to death by our own security forces and nothing came out of it,” Mr Jammeh told Gambiana.

“We only went out to demand justice for our colleagues Ebrima Barry who was touted to death by fire service officers and Binta Manneh who was rapt by PIU officers,” he said.

Abdou Karim Jammeh now 41-year-old lives with other fellow victims in Turkey where they are receiving treatment thanks to the recommendation of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC).

He now demands the Barrow administration to make the country’s youth monument a memorial service centre for those who had lost their lives in during the protests and to mark the days as national holidays in remembrance of fallen students.

However, damning revelations have so far emerged from testimonies in the probe inquiry investigating rights abuses and killings that happened during the 22-year rule of former president Yahya Jammeh as dozens of witnesses including victims and perpetrators. 

Former president Jammeh has been living in exile in Equatorial Guinea since losing power in the 2016 presidential election. He is yet to answer to allegations levelled against him and his regime as he is yet to appear before the Truth Commission.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba