Gambiaj.com – (BRIKAMA, The Gambia) – Tensions reached a boiling point today during “Operation Clear Road” in Brikama, as vendors fiercely resisted efforts to clear their stalls. The confrontation escalated into clashes between the vendors and the team led by Manneh, resulting in stones being thrown and the use of tear gas.

The conflict follows a directive issued by the Brikama Area Council on June 4th, urging vendors and customers to reject any demands to voluntarily demolish council-approved structures within the Brikama market and car park area. The Council emphasized, “The Brikama Area Council wishes to notify all its vendors and customers within the Brikama market and car park area to refuse any orders, requests, or demands from any authority to voluntarily demolish any of their structures approved by the council in the Brikama markets and car parks area!”

According to reports, several individuals were injured today during the clashes and were taken to the Brikama Health Center for treatment. Among those affected were vendors and members of the task force.

In a significant development, a Council member and the Chairman of the Market Committee were reportedly arrested and taken to the Banjulinding police station. The arrest followed their involvement in the efforts to prevent the forceful clearing of roads around Nana Junction, Brikama.

Councillor Jawo, acting as the Chairperson of the Market and Carpark Sub-committee, led an official Brikama Area Council (BAC) group in an attempt to mediate the situation. His arguments with the task force and security personnel quickly escalated, leading to a scuffle and his subsequent arrest.

In a public statement, Darboe wrote, “Operation Manneh has now descended on the Brikama Area Council, arresting one of our councillors and Chairman of our Market Committee, Mamadou Jawo Jallow! I’m currently held up at the Brikama District Hospital with other victims tear-gassed by Operation Manneh on the orders of President Adama Barrow! Until death takes us today, we will fight to end this operation today!!!”

The Chairman of the Brikama Area Council, Yankuba Darboe, condemned the actions on his Facebook page and visited the police station to advocate for those detained. Darboe expressed his outrage on social media, stating, “I told the cowards in our uniforms abusing the laws of our land that our only crime is being elected by our people to represent them. This whole operation is a witch hunt by Barrow against us.”

The situation in Brikama remains tense as authorities and local leaders continue to grapple with the fallout from today’s clashes.