A sister of the suspected ringleader of a failed coup attempt in The Gambia has called for his release, saying he was not involved in any plot to topple the government.
Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera was arrested a week ago after the government accused him of masterminding an attempted coup.
In a BBC interview, Alia Fadera, the eldest sister of the lance-corporal, said he could not have plotted a coup, as he was only a medic in the navy with no access to weapons or influence in the military.
“Since my brother’s arrest, we have not heard from him and we are worried,” she added.
Fadera said the military had detained her brother at his workplace in the capital, Banjul, before bringing him to their village in Kiang Nema, 155km (96 miles) away.
“His house and farm were searched by the military but no weapon was found,” she added.
READ ALSO: 10 Dead In Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Accident
The sister called for his release saying her brother had lived in the village with his wife and four children, who were devastated by the allegation against him.
“The entire village is surprised and when the military truck came, most of the villagers came out to see what was happening. I’m calling on the authorities to release my brother,” Fadera said.