Grand Magal: Police on a reconnaissance mission in Touba, a new police station soon to be operational

As the Grand Magal, commemorating the exile of Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba, approaches, the national police have intensified their preparations in Touba to ensure the event's security. A large-scale operation has been deployed, mobilizing nearly 35 police officers of all ranks. The city of Touba has been divided into thirteen zones, each placed under the supervision of a junior officer to ensure effective territorial coverage.

Following this extensive mission, a smaller delegation continued the reconnaissance work. It was composed of Chief Superintendent Daouda Bodian, head of the Touba Special Police Station; Chief Superintendent Abdoulaye Ka, commander of the Mobile Intervention Group (GMI) in the Diourbel region; Commissioner Dame Touré, head of the Ndamatou district police station; and Lieutenant Pape Demba Diouf, head of the Gouy Mbind police station. This delegation visited the various accommodation sites as well as the seven advanced police posts established around the city.

A traffic assessment was also carried out to ensure smooth traffic flow throughout the event.

Following this mission, the police delegation was received this Friday by Serigne Bassirou Abdou Khadr Mbacké, spokesperson for the general caliph of the Mourides, Serigne Mountakha Mbacké. This provided an opportunity for Chief Commissioner Daouda Bodian to announce the upcoming opening of a second district police station in Touba, after the one in Ndamatou.

According to Commissioner Bodian, the briefings and debriefings held during the mission emphasized to officers the fundamental principles of the national police force: courtesy, respect for human rights, quality of service, sound judgment, and professionalism. He assured that the message had been well received by officers whom he described as experienced and dedicated, tasked with leading the personnel deployed in the field.

The chief commissioner also indicated that the prohibitions specific to the holy city as well as the recommendations of the hierarchy, both at the level of the GMI and the Directorate of Public Security (DSP) would be scrupulously respected.

Other police components, including the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS), are expected to gradually join the system.

While acknowledging that security needs are greater this year, Commissioner Bodian reassured the public that the hierarchy had mobilized additional personnel accordingly. He announced that the first additional detachment requested would be deployed in the coming days, allowing for a gradual increase in the deployment to full capacity.