By Fatoumatta K Jallow - Shop owners who were selling #Gambia has decided t-shirts, photos, calendars and cards that were seized by security personnel have told this reporter that their materials have not been returned to them.
Two women who operate shops at the World Mobile junction Westfield, were picked up on Saturday, 31 December, 2016 around 8pm, by four men identifying themselves as operatives of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). According to them, they were taken away to the NIA headquarters in Banjul with their materials and held for 3 hours before being released on the same day.
In an interview with Mam Sira Mackintyre, one of the shop owners, on Tuesday, 10 January, 2017 she told this reporter that they took from her 40 t-shirts which were taken on credit from a supplier in order to make a small profit. She disclosed that the materials taken from her are worth D11, 000.
“I don’t think I was violating the constitution or any person’s rights by selling these materials. I don’t go to people’s home to sell but have a shop to sell legitimate goods to earn income for my sustenance,” she said.
Ms. Mackintyre said she is calling on the four men who seized her materials to return them to her as she depends on her shop to support the survival of her family.
“Have I committed any crime in selling these stuffs?” asked the young lady.
The other female shop owner, Fatou Saidykhan, who explained that she was away when the security personnel came there, said what was taken from her is worth D2500. She said the operatives took away her sister when they came to her shop. She also revealed that the t-shirts were given to her on credit basis in order for her to make a small profit from them.
Ms. Saidykhan also pleads with the responsible authorities to return the materials that were seized from her.