Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 189
171 was very pleased and arranged for my stay in a good hotel in the town. I spent the days in jama’at programmes and returned to the hotel at night. I stayed there for a few days; he paid all the cost. Because of some important official engagements, he could not join me during the tour. However, he compensated that by sending five important personalities to accompany me in his official car; they remained with me throughout. There has been a separatist movement going on in the area for a while that has destroyed the tranquillity of Cassamance region. The rebels attack any township whenever they get the opportunity, slaughter the innocent citizens and make away with their goods. These rebel groups disappear easily into the forests nearby. Their barbarous activities have destroyed the peace of the area. It is said that if the rebels are victorious they wear crowns on their heads but if captured they have gallows around their necks. Account of Martyrdom : Like the rest of the Islamic world, Eid- ul-Azha is celebrated very enthusiastically in Senegal as well. All the people try to go back to their family homes and share the festivities of Eid with their household. Mr Lamin Badjie gave Eid greetings to his colleagues a day before Eid and set out for his village. He also sent his staff away to celebrate Eid with their families. He arrived home at night and met his family. Relatives and friends came to see him and after customary greetings continued to chit-chat till late in the night. It would not have crossed anybody’s mind that this was Lamin Badji’s last night with them. Next morning, everybody started preparing for Eid, so did Lamin Sahib. While he was sitting in the hall, the rebels suddenly surrounded his house. Some of them entered the