Fatou Joof, a house wife in Mbollet Ba village in Lower Niumi, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting Ba Ahmidu Njie,16, causing bodily harm. 

The 49-year-old woman is alleged to have hit the victim with a stick on the face, leaving him with injury in his eye, Niumi FM reports. 

The victim’s mother Abie Nyan told Niumi FM that “Fatou Joof is in the habit of stopping my kids from fetching water from the nearby public tap next to her compound on the highway. 

“She has since stopped them (my kids), from fetching water from the public tap belonging to all of us (the villagers). Her only reason was that the tap is next to her compound. 

“We (the villagers), normally pay a monthly contribution fee thus enabling us to pay for the NAWEC water bill. Before the incident occurred I reported the matter to Alkalo (village head), on several occasions.”

She continued: “My last report to the Alkalo was when she (Fatou Joof), threatened to kill my elder daughter, Isatou Njie, in my absence. 

“She told my daughter your life is in my hands and if you are not careful of me I will soon kill you. The Alkalo himself told me that was too much and advised me to report the matter to the police. 

“Upon reporting the matter the Barra, police immediately wanted to arrest her but again I intervened simply because it was the same day she (Fatou Joof), was to be wed. 

“If I allow the police to arrest her people will assume that it was because I was not wed so I was hating on her.”

According to her, Fatou is in the habit of doing such adding and “I am with belief that she will again repeat it.”

ASP Muhammed Y. Darboe is also quoted as saying “indeed the story happens. The lady assaulted the boy causing bodily harm and she is currently detained helping the police in their investigation.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba