“My Security Has Been Breached”

Abdoulie John needs his passport back
Abdoulie John has had his passport seized in The Gambia 

 ‘Somebody Has Been Spying On Me With A Smartphone App’

Journalist Abdoulie John is once again at the center of threat on his life, complaining that his security has been breached. Mr. John, a former editor of the Daily Observer, contributes to Kairo News and sells stories to the Associated Press. He was a victim of arbitrary arrest, detention and torture in The Gambia.

“I would like to inform you about the security threats I am confronted with,” Mr. John told Kairo News. “Since my arrival in Mbour, Senegal, I have been going through serious challenges compelling me to use greater secrecy and caution in my day-to-day interaction with people,” he said, connecting the dots on his December 2012 and January 2013 brush with Gambian government. He said the conspiracy was the handiwork of “unscrupulous people living in Senegal and The Gambia.”

John said his hope to breathe air of peace in Senegal has been dashed. “I fled to Senegal in June 2013 after abduction attempts against me had failed,” he said, explaining how “the same people still continue to pose serious menace to me. I did gather detailed information about them, and will release it at an appropriate time.”

The jigsaw puzzle for Mr. John happened on March 27 this year when his Kirene SIM card (78 226 34 26) disappeared. “I could still remember removing it in my phone because it was in my inside vest pocket,” John added. He soon lodged a complaint with Senegalese security. “I am yet to receive any feedback from the officer handling my case.”

Another thing that struck Mr. John was that “somebody has been spying on me with a smartphone app. The owner of this line 78 157 80 59 made about 10 successive calls on April 11, trying to reach out to me, prompting me to send him two text messages reading as follows: “Pardon je priais. Qui est-ce? (19:42)”; “Sorry I was praying. Who is it? (19:45)”. He did not reply to these messages but kept on calling while I was discussing with a family member about a confidential issue. Through my calls recorder app, I discovered he was listening and he heard the whole conversation that lasted 16mns and 30s.”

Mr. John sent text message to the person spying on him to be prepared to take responsibility for committing a crime. “He did not reply, and when I tried to call him, the line was not available.

On April 12, he did it again by listening to a call from The Gambia. I was discussing with my mother and sister about security issues, and am still wondering how he managed to get through the conversation.”

Ends

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