The current wave of exhumations in Bakau cemetery forced local government authorities to tighten security measures at the sacred place.

Last week, the town’s councilor and other members of its Ward Development Committee, installed 22 solar lights at the Bakau cemetery that they hope will help strengthen the security of the place and thwart further disruptions.

Speaking to Reporters, Lamin Dibba, the councilor said, some of the solar lights were donated by the Mayor of KMC Talib Bensouda, a native of Bakau.

“The other 12 lights came from the councilor and WDC,” he added.

He said following the installment of the solar lights, he conducted a tour at the place and the  whole place was beaming. “Immediately after I entered the cemetery, a group of boys saw me and followed me in but having realized it was me, they retreated,” the councilor said showing the watchfulness and readiness of the boys of the town in the wake of the frightful excavation. “They have become so suspecting now that anyone who enters the cemetery would be keenly observed,”

Assan Touray, The National Assembly Member for Bakau said, the new development marks the completion  of a series of  meetings held with stakeholders. “This (the lights in the cemetery) is significant because in the past there was no light there. Now that there is light, even from a distance of 60 meters, one can see inside the cemetery and what’s going on in there.”

 

‘Vigilante’ group activated’

The MP has also announced the formation of a group of young people who will be responsible with the security of the cemetery from backsliders.

“You can call them vigilantes or whatever name you like, the bottom line is they need to protect our town because incidents of such nature gives us a very bad name,” the lawmaker said.

The new measures are taken following the unknown exhumations in the cemetery. The excavation  of the body of an old woman followed by another one recently, encouraged the authorities to secure the resting place.

By: Fatima Sonko