By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-in-Chief

According to our Yundum Barracks whistle blower Officer “X” (a.k.a. “OX”), a platoon of 30 soldiers from Bakau’s Fajara Barracks is poised to deploy to the Kombo Central village of Darsilami, 55km off Banjul. The platoon, led by a Lieutenant Manneh is expected to begin operations no later than Monday October 1^st, part of what our correspondent described as “combat-readiness”. Says our correspondent, the idea to strategize culminating to the deployment of a platoon of 30 men was the result of President Wade’s

recent request for the Jammeh government to handover the remnant of Cassamance rebels still languishing at Gambia’s Mile II Prisons.

 According to OX, Darsilami is to have a 24-hour guard post to mount a checkpoint for vehicular activities in and out of The Gambia; to monitor movement of goods and services from the Gambia, enroute to the Senegalese southern province of Cassamance.

            Reveals OX, ever since the Senegalese envoy left The Gambia, we have been on our knees, unending meetings and irrelevant security briefings about fears of Gambian dissidents launching attacks through the country’s porous borders. The platoon of 30 men says OX, will be rotating every 30 days to avoid what our correspondent calls “unintended similarity with the locals that may potentially compromise security.” Says our most competent OX, President Jammeh believes that an attack is imminent, the only reason why we have to mount a guard post at Darsilami even though most of the soldiers are not the least happy about deployment to the village. According to OX, the move had the blessing of Hon. Ismaila Sambou the Minister for Local Government and Lands who had previously dished out miles of communal land to President Jammeh. Following the sacking of Sheikh Omar Faye as Sports Minister, Jammeh in an apparent gesture of good will, arbitrarily transferred Religious Affairs from the Youth, Sports Department; a move seen by many as a withering indictment on the new Sports Chief, Mass Axy Gai. While the previous occupant was embroiled in a sex scandal, it is curiously fascinating why Jammeh would curtail Gai’s portfolio from the very beginning of his tenure. Pretty ominous beginning indeed! Is Sambou more religious than Mass Axy Gai or is Jammeh just impressed with Sambou’s ubiquitous Kaftans measuring ½ a kilometer long?

           By a concomitant twist of irony, Sambou’s religiosity will be tested pretty soon as most locals according to OX, are worried about the deployment of soldiers to a tranquil village like Darsilami where, innocent village girls may eventually fall prey to the khaki boys. Says OX; most of the villagers have expressed concerns about the potential dangers of soldiers in Darsilami. “Our daughters, especially the school going ones may soon go out of control” our correspondent quoted local villagers.

            It can be recalled that in the last three months troop movement was reported on the north bank region leading to a special report on Fort Bullen. Says Ox; today we can report that there are 50 men at Fort Bullen also, in readiness for a potential invasion by Gambian dissidents. We will continue to monitor developments about the deployment to Darsilami.