16 Years On, The Names Of West African Migrants Massacre Revealed To TRRC

In the efforts to unearthing the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding the massacre of the 50 West African migrants in 2005 in The Gambia, one key missing element of the 16 year old criminal puzzle has been laid bare this Thursday at the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC).

Gibril Ngorr Secka, a senior agent of former President Yahya Jammeh’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has brought to light a hidden list bearing the names of the slain 50 West African migrants, with the majority being Ghanaians but also Ivoirians, Togolese, Senegalese and Nigerians.

When the witness Mr. Secka revealed to the Commission that he got a list of the 51 names of those killed during the massacre, the Lead counsel of the TRRC jerked from his seat and could not resist whistling. “I gave this list to a keeper who safely kept it for me until today“, the witness told the TRRC.

Essa Faal then asked the former NIA agent how he got the complete detailed list of the 51 victims, Ngorr Secka replied that he obtained if from the Kairaba Police Station, on 23^rd of July, 2005, when the victims were being identified and investigated on by the police.

“I also took a copy of the complete list for vetting at our counter espionage unit at the NIA. I needed to verify if the names could give us a lead” Mr. Secka replied

As the witness proceeded into reading the names in the list, the whole room went quiet with faces undoubtedly filled with emotion. At the end of the reading, the list count was exactly 51 migrants

In 2005, the former administration of Yahya Jammeh tried to cover up the massacre by saying that the migrants’ executions never happen on Gambia soil.

The only survivor of the 2005 Massacre Martin Kyere is expecting to appear before the TRRC to narrate what exactly happened to his fellow colleagues on that fateful day, 16 years ago.