Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Inspector General of Police (IGP) in The Gambia has addressed the recent controversy surrounding online exchanges involving Babucarr Bahoum, a vocal supporter of President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP), and former police spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Binta Njie, who was later summoned by the police.

Speaking on the matter, the IGP dismissed claims that Njie was being intimidated, emphasizing that the police force remains impartial in handling such cases. “Let me clarify the point about her being intimidated—there is no intimidation here,” he stated. “The little I know about my colleague, Assistant Superintendent of Police Binta Njie, is that she would never say to anybody that she has been intimidated.”

The controversy began when Bahoum made disparaging remarks on social media, triggering widespread backlash. The IGP distanced himself from Bahoum’s comments, calling them inappropriate. “I am not aligning myself with the remarks made by Mr. Bahoum. They are very uncalled for, very unnecessary, and I don’t agree with those remarks,” he said.

However, the police chief sought to downplay the situation, suggesting that everyone makes mistakes, drawing an analogy to animals miscalculating when crossing roads. He noted that Bahoum had since apologized to the people of Kiang and the nation, which he considered a positive step.

Regarding ASP Binta Njie’s reaction to Bahoum’s comments and her subsequent police summons, the IGP referenced institutional regulations. He pointed out that serving police officers must adhere to the force’s code of conduct, which prohibits them from publicly engaging in political matters while in uniform. “It is the sovereign right of every individual police officer to be affiliated with a political party, but this must not be manifested so long as you are wearing the uniform,” he stressed.

The incident has sparked discussions about political expression within the security services and the role of police officers in public discourse. While the IGP defended the force’s neutrality, the issue remains a topic of debate as social media continues to influence political and institutional interactions in The Gambia.