PHOTO: Jerry Kpah, zone Leader of the Kpandy Town community
By King Brown, sarwahking@gmail.com
BUCHANAN, Liberia – Barely days after armed men attacked, shot, and wounded occupants in residential facilities in Grand Bassa County, some residents have been meeting to explore ways to curb the rising rate of armed robbery and other criminal activities.
Last week, a woman and her daughter were shot and wounded by armed robbers in the area.
Now, people of Kpandy and Jacko Town Communities in Buchanan have ended a one-day community meeting and resolved to establish a community watch team.
The watch team comprises 21 young men, who are to increase surveillance to track down criminal gangs, and proper identification of unfamiliar persons in their areas.
The meeting which brought together both community leaders and dwellers was held last Thursday, June 3, 2021, at the Palava hut in the Kpandy Town community.
Mr. Jerry Kpah, zone Leader of the Kpandy Town community said the crime rate in their area is on the increase which makes them not sleep peacefully at night.
Making a specific reference to Kpandy Town Community, Mr. Kpah mentioned that the Community which is divided into three quarters includes: River View, Old Kpandy Town, and IGO Community has been informed that one of the quarters has been attacked bitterly by an alleged criminal gangs.
Amos Greave, a resident of Jacko Town Community
According to him, the community is big in land and population size, so they need to protect themselves from being intimidated continuously by criminals because every night in their community there are more than two hundred men who are seen taking illicit drugs before terrorizing quiet residents for their belongings.
He described the reported increase of criminals and armed robbery activities in their various communities as worrisome and fearful and further they are living in complete doubt as he calls on the government of Liberia to provide equal protection for them.
Mr. Amos Greave, a resident of Jacko Town Community said those who are in the constant habit of terrorizing peaceful citizens day and night in their area, have been reported to the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency several times but unfortunately the criminal’s rate has drastically increased to and extend where their homes have been burglarized, threatened, maltreated and wounded.
According to him, the base of those alleged criminals where they normally take in their illicit drugs before attacking communities dwellers have been exposed to the LDEA by them but there has been no tough action taken to raid them. Something he claimed the LDEA has taken a side in the discharge of their assignment and obligation as law enforcers.
They are calling on members of the Liberia National Police in Grand Bassa County to come to their aid by raiding those gangs from their communities because according to him, the problem is getting most terrible for them and their families each day.
“We have reported this matter to the DEA on numerous occasions and the same habit continues. Look, those bad guys gathered at night to smoke drugs and whenever they see you walking, they all will come, attack, and take all of your belongings immediately” why should people even live in a self-governing country and there is no security to protect them? This is saddened” He added.
Recently, alleged gunmen on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, attacked a commercial residence in Buchanan leaving two persons severely injured from the gun fired.