A young man who begged for anonymity has disclosed to What's On-Gambia that he and his friends were teargassed by PIU officers while picnicking at Sanyang Beach on Sunday.

According to the young man: "The PIU officers stole our food as they were leaving after tear-gassing us. We were picnicking near the Jungle Beach Resort at Sanyang Beach."

He added: "There were over 100 people on the beach. We were shocked when the officers arrived. They used tear gas to disperse us. 

"Not only did they steal our food, but they also took some personal items. The officers were extremely unprofessional, and I still can't understand why they used tear gas on us."

A source close to some of the picnickers told What's On-Gambia, "The boys were very peaceful. If they had resisted, many PIU officers would have gone home with injuries."

The use of excessive force by the police remains an ongoing human rights issue in The Gambia.