Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – A tense protest in Banjul on Thursday led to the arrest of several members of a newly formed civil rights group, Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), after they defied police orders and marched against alleged corruption in the handling of former President Yahya Jammeh’s seized assets.

The protest, which began late Thursday morning, saw young demonstrators carrying placards with slogans such as “Return back the assets,” “Our protest is legal,” “General Wealth,” “All power to the people,” and “Produce the list in full.” The group demanded transparency and accountability from the government regarding the proceeds of assets seized from the exiled former ruler.

Despite being denied a permit by police on Wednesday—with no official reason cited—GALA organizers went ahead with the planned demonstration, arguing that their right to peaceful assembly was constitutional.

However, as protesters began marching through Banjul, police swiftly intervened, arresting key leaders of the movement, including Omar Saibo Camara, Alhaji Mamadi Kurang, Ousainou Gambia, Omar Camara, and Kexx Sanneh, who is also a journalist.

Sanneh later confirmed his arrest in a Facebook post, writing: “We are arrested. Heading to police headquarters.”

Alkamba Time journalist Alieu Ceesay was also detained, even though he was wearing his press jacket.

Matarr Jassey, a cameraman with The Fatu Network, was violently confronted by a police officer while filming the protest. “I was just doing my job filming the protest, and beyond that, I did nothing that should have warranted such actions,” Jassey recounted. The officer reportedly grabbed him by the collar in an attempt to force him into a police vehicle, but intervention by fellow journalists prevented the arrest.

Following the incident, several members of the press gathered at The Gambia Police Force headquarters in Banjul, demanding the immediate release of all detained journalists.

The Fatu Network issued a strong condemnation of the actions of the police, describing the treatment of its cameraman as “brutal,” and called on authorities to desist from harassing media professionals.

National Assembly Members Omar Jatto Jatta and Momodou Lamin Bah visited the Police Headquarters in Banjul to inquire about the status of the recently arrested protesters.

GALA emerged recently in the wake of an explosive investigation by The Republic news outlet, which accused state officials of mismanaging properties and wealth recovered from the former president.

Thursday’s protest was intended to draw public attention to what the group says is a lack of transparency in how Jammeh’s assets are being handled.

As of now, it remains unclear whether those arrested will face charges or if the protest movement will escalate in response to the crackdown.