Lamin Sonko, a UDP supporter who was arrested alongside late Solo Sandeng in 2016, has told the TRRC that former Inspector General of Police Yankuba Sonko ordered their detention in Mile Two Prison hours after their arrest.

About 26 members of the opposition United Democratic Party were arrested for staging an anti-government protest in 2016z 

Their arrest left one of the party’s outspoken members, Ebrima Solo Sandeng, dead after he was tortured by members of the feared National Intelligence Agency.

Lamin Sonko also known as Falang told the Commission that “Yankuba Sonko gave them [police officers] the order that they took us to Mile Two but Solo Sandeng and Nogoi Njie were ordered to be taken to the NIA.

He said Solo who was leaning on him was singled out from the others as they were paraded in front of the Inspector General of Police Yankuba Sonko and other senior government officials in a crammed room at the headquarters of the Police Intervention Unit.

Yankuba Sonko, who served police chief during the Jammeh dictatorship, is now the Interior minister. 

He is yet to respond to the allegations of Lamin Sonko (no relation) to the TRRC. 

Mr Sonko’s testimony continues.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba