According to information provided by the National Security Advisor (NSA), Cpl. Sana Fadera and other alleged coup plotters planned to seize the State House and then hold high government officials, including Cabinet ministers, hostage in order to thwart any attempts at intervention.
“The said plan shows the composition of the formations that were to participate, the required forcefully take over the State House and prevent any intervention,” explained the national security adviser as he briefed the press on the progress of the investigation on the alleged coup.
He added: “The Gambia Naval Base in Banjul was identified to be the launching platform with accomplices from the State Guards, Fajara Barracks and Yundum Barracks and other battalions around the country.
“In addition to the State House,the plan shows other key locations to be taken over and occupied… which include the Denton Bridge, the Bond Road Banjul Highway intersection, Arch 22 and installations such as NAWEC power station at Kotu, radio stations, the Abuko earth station, the airport and also to seal off ECOMIG troops.
“The coup plotters also intended to use media propaganda to promote their takeover, arrest cabinet ministers and senior government officials to use them as hostages to prevent any intervention.
“They also had plans to retire all senior military officers from the rank of major and above and also restructure the Gambia Armed Forces”.
It should be recalled that two Gambian military officials allegedly involved in a plot to oust President Adama Barrow‘s administration in a coup were detained last week.
On December 21, the administration said that a number of soldiers had been detained in connection with an attempt to launch a coup in the tiny, Senegal-surrounded country of 2.5 million people in West Africa.
He claimed that while the hunt for further accused conspirators was still going on, a second-lieutenant of the Gambian infantry and a captain from the military intelligence and security unit were both taken into custody on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Leaders of the West and Central African region have denounced the alleged conspiracy, which has led to the arrest of seven people, including two officers and five troops.
