Bubacarr Trawalleh, a blind man of Malian nationality, was recently arrested by personnel from the Kuntaur Police Station, the closest to the Senegalese border, on the North Bank.

He was said to have been caught with a firearm. Mr Trawalleh, who claimed to be a marabout, is said to have travelled all the way from Mali to work his miracles in The Gambia.

During police interrogation, he said that he had acquired the weapon in Senegal, in a village called Rouwd. He said an individual who owed him money (after he had prepared some charms for him) had given him the weapon as part payment for his services.

The accused was later taken to the Janjanbureh Police Station, where he is said to be be undergoing further interrogation.