By Mustapha Darboe
Lamin Darboe, a native of Farafenni is reported to have died in a congested Libyan prison notoriously called “Solomon Prison” in Zabrata town.
Reports from Libya said the actual cause of death is not yet established but the secretary general of the Gambia Association in Libya, Edrisa Sarjo, told The Standard that the prison where the boy died is controlled by the militia men and not the legitimate Libyan authorities.
Zabrata town is a popular temporary residence for most Gambian migrants. “More Gambians are in that prison even,” Sarjo added.
Meanwhile a recent report has indicated that 86 Gambians have died in the North African country between April 2016 to April 2017 and 34 are missing.
In 2017 alone, about 512 Gambians were recorded to have been jailed in Libya, according to the Gambian association there.
Gambia currently has no embassy in the North African country and the only contact person for the International Organization for Migration is the Gambian Association there but The Standard has gathered that IOM officials and the Gambian Association have received a green light to visit the ‘Solomon Prison’ next week to register voluntary returnees.
