Gambia - The Nigerian-born Executive Director of Gambia Press Union (GPU), Ahmed Alota, who was detained by Gambian Police, has been released without being charged with any crime, PANA reported from here Wednesday. Speaking to PANA on telephone from Banjul, Gambian capital, Mr. Alota said he was “invited” for questioning by the Gambian Police personnel on matters relating to GPU’s recently held congress. According to him, the police also had some questions on his predecessor, Ndeyn Tapha Sosseh, the GPU outgoing President.

When pressed to give details of the questions raised by the police, Mr. Alota was reluctant, saying “this is a normal occupational hazard.”

Quizzed further if such a “hazard” is only peculiar to the Gambian environment, he hung up the phone, saying he was in a meeting.

Mr. Alota worked as a journalist for the pro-government Daily Observer and Point newspapers before assuming his present position. 

He also co-authored a book, which is the biography of late Gambian journalist and managing editor of The Point newspaper, Deyda Hydara, who was mysteriously gunned down in cold-blood by unknown assailants.

Pana 29/06/2011