In response to a query from Nominated Member Fatoumatta K. Jawara of the National Assembly in the ongoing ordinary session, the Minister of the Interior, Seyaka Sonko, clarified that Yankuba Touray and others were not detained in isolation.

According to the Minister of Interior, Yankuba Touray and others were not in solitary confinement at the prison but were moved to a safer location after an incident involving a stabbing by another convicted prisoner. An inspection was conducted after the incident, leading to the recommendation that high-profile prisoners be kept in a secure location. The new location is a combined cell, ensuring their safety and ensuring they are not in solitary confinement.

This decision was made in order to prevent any further violent incidents and to guarantee the safety of all inmates, including high-profile prisoners like Yankuba Touray. The Minister of the Interior assured the members of the national assembly that the prisoners’ basic rights and needs are still being met in their new accommodation. The move to a more secure location was seen as a necessary precaution to maintain order and security within the prison system.

Hon. Jawara stated in her follow-up inquiry that either the jail guards on that specific day should be suspended or a comprehensive investigation should be conducted to determine the culprit.

“We visited the prisons; we went right inside and saw how they are in the main yard. All the prisoners are left to go out in the open yard, and on this day, this particular person is suspected to have a mental health issue. He grabs a piece of metal; they say it’s a screwdriver, and he stabs his colleague,” the minister, Siaka Sonko, replied.

Hon. Jawara suggested transferring mentally challenged inmates to a psychiatric unit for proper care, based on her experience during detention. Minister Sonko assured them they would consider the recommendation, noting that mentally challenged individuals may be transferred to facilities like Tanka Tanka for evaluation and returned to prison if stable. Minister Sonko also mentioned workmen occasionally leaving tools, allowing inmates access.