(JollofNews)- The families of two Gambian-American men who went missing while on a trip to the Gambia have made a public plea for information regarding their unknown whereabouts.
Alhagie Mamute Ceesay and Ebou Jobe, both Gambian born US citizens travelled to the West African nation in May 2013 to start a business and provide employment opportunities to youths.
But the according to eye-witness accounts reported to the US State Department and the FBI, the men were travelling back from a music concert on the night of 22nd June 2013 when their vehicle was stopped at a security checkpoint in Burusubi.
According to their families, the two friends were asked to get out of the car by the officers who placed them in handcuffs and threw them in the back of a pick-up truck. They were later taken to a private apartment that they rented, which was ‘completely’ ransacked before they were transported to headquarters of the feared National Intelligence Agence (NIA) in Banjul. They have not been heard or seen ever since.
“For over three years, we have learned to work relentlessly just to keep hope alive. Some days the grief is so unbearable but we kept moving hoping for a day when Gambia will be free from tyranny and we will all be re-united with our love ones,” the families said.
“We believe there is someone out there that has some information and we are pleading with you to please come forward (however small or sad). You can get in touch with us on 682-472-2090, 917-520-5249 and 220 797 2087 below or via email freealhagieandebou@gmail.com or Twitter @FreeAlhagieEbou.”
Since the end of President Yahya Jammeh’s regime, a large number of Gambians who were arbitrarily arrested and detained for months by his regime are being released.
They added: “There are still many other victims still unaccounted for and we are also pleading on behalf of those families for you to come forward with any information that can help them as well. This has been a long tough journey, and the family miss Alhagie and Ebou dearly. We are hopeful that this ordeal will soon end with your help!”