By Mafugi Ceesay
Police PRO, ASP Lamin Njie, yesterday confirmed to The Standard that Janjangbureh is experiencing an unprecedented spate of school-going teenage pregnancies.
He said within a period of five weeks in August and September, five cases of pregnancies in teenage schoolgirls were reported within the small rural island town.
ASP Njie said the first case was reported on 31 August when one Ebrima Njie, 26, was accused of impregnating a 17-year-old girl. He explained: “It was reported that the victim and the accused person were said to be dating during which time he used to invite her to his house to have carnal knowledge of her resulting in her pregnancy.”
He said the second case involved one Ebrima Conteh, 29, who impregnated his 16-year-old girlfriend.
In another case, one Ebrima Faye, 26, also impregnated his girlfriend, a 17-year-old schoolgirl. It was said the girl used to frequent his house during which they engaged in intercourse resulting in the pregnancy. This case was reported on 31 August.
In another case, one Musa Camara, 28, also impregnated his girlfriend, a 17-year- old.
The last case was reported on 4 September, involving two 16-year olds. They were said to meet by the riverside for their moonlighting peccadilloes resulting in the young lady conceiving.
ASP Njie said the cases, which have been reported to the island police, have been referred to the Gender and Child Welfare Unit of the police for investigation and that appropriate charges ranging from defilement to indecent at will be preferred against the accused persons.
He said Gambia Police Force is warning people to desist from seducing young girls into relationships and thereby putting an end to their educational career by impregnating them.
Among the Lotharios named in this pregnancy scandal are government officials on posting in Janjangbureh.
