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Gambia: 64 "Almudus" Deported
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FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
1 March 2008
Posted to the web 3 March 2008
Fabakary B. Ceesay
Security agents working for the Gambia Immigration Department on Tuesday 26 February, rounded up 67 "Almudus" (children beggars), within the city of Banjul.
These "Almudus" who were identified as Senegalese citizens were eventually deported, while those who happened to be Gambians were kept in detention. According to the Immigration spokesperson, Superintendent Olimatou Jammeh Sonko, the children who are all boys aged between 10 and 17, were like vagabonds within Banjul. Superintendent Jammeh Sonko indicated that the children were living by themselves, noting that most of them slept in mosques and under verandas. She noted that most of them were being used as child labourers at the beach side in Banjul and were paid low wages.
She noted that most of them were not physically healthy, adding that they were causing nuisance within the communities. She emphasised that her department will leave no stone unturned on the "Almudu" issue; that the trend will continue until they are wiped out of the streets.
She stated that the Gambian Almudus will be kept in detention until their parents are identified; that they too will be warned to keep their children off the streets. Superintendent Olimatou posited that all the 64 children are natives of Kabada, NJamakuta and Medinaunas, all in Senegal. She indicated that they were deported under the escort of their officers to the border and handed over to the Senegalese authorities. She also added that the Senegalese authorities in Banjul were aware of the developments. Superintendent Jammeh stated that from now on, teenagers travelling into the Gambia without parents will not be allowed in; adding that they would put all measures to stop the flood of teenagers in to the Gambia.
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