PHOTO: Police IG Patrick Sudue
By Frank Sainworla, Jr., fsainworla@yahoo.com
The top brass of the Liberia National Police (LNP) including its Inspector General (IG), Patrick Sudue have said that there are “paid agents” spreading reports of a wave of insecurity in the country, accusing the Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) and others of besmearing the image of the government and country.
Speaking on the state radio, ELBC on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, IG Sudue dismissed reports of growing insecurity around the country, including ritualistic killings, downplaying the reports as “wave of alleged insecurity”.
The Police authorities’ downgrading of the level of insecurity reported in recent times, rather contradicts accounts from the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), the LCC, the media and others about a wave of mysterious disappearances, mysterious deaths and ritualistic killings.
In a statement issued September 1, 2021, this is what the INCHR said:
“The attention of INCHR has been drawn to the disappearances and mysterious deaths of peaceful citizens including brutality of our peaceful citizens by State security. According to Chairman Brown, no finding has so far been revealed from investigations conducted into these incidents by state security.”
According to the rights commission Chairman, Cllr. Dempster Brown, these accounts have been documented by the INCHR’s monitors around Liberia.
At the end of a two-day conference by the Liberia Council of Churches in collaboration with the All African Council of Churches, the LCC led by its President Bishop Kortu Brown called on the government of President George Weah to take robust action by investigating and bringing to a complete halt all ritualistic killings, disappearances as well as all forms of human rights abuses around the country.
The concern raised by Church leaders came in the wake of a rise in ritualistic killings, mysterious deaths and disappearances in recent times. In some instances, the lifeless bodies of a number of persons who had gone missing have been discovered in various parts of the country, in some cases with parts missing.
The visiting President of the All African Council of Churches, the Right Bishop Arnold Temple called on the Liberian government to listen the Liberia Council of Churches especially on the recommendations on the prevailing situation in the country
But the Police IG described such reports as “fear tactics”. And his Deputy for Investigation, Colonel Prince Mulbah said “paid agents” are trying to scare people (including Liberians abroad) from coming to the country for the upcoming Christmas and New Year seasons.
Police IG Sudue said: “We are kind of confused about the term ritualistic killing. People are confusing homicide to ritualistic killings.”
But even as the Police top brass were doing their radio program, Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor was issuing a statement, expressing concern about the growing wave of insecurity, and reports of mysterious disappearances, mysterious deaths and ritualistic killings in the country.
VP Taylor said this has instilled fear in peaceful citizens, who are afraid to move about freely, especially at night and that something must be done to arrest the situation.
The Liberian Police chief said “unscrupulous individuals are trying to pant the country black”, but he warned that soon they be exposed.
While the Police high command were downplaying reports of a growing wave of insecurity, they announced immediate measures to beef up security in the country, including Monrovia.
IG Sudue said they are immediately launching vigorous search of vehicles in Monrovia and search for illegal weapons.
They also said the Police will be revamping its community policing strategy and will work with Community Watch Teams.
Meanwhile, the LNP says it is to begin investigating social media false alarm posters.
In a press release posted on its Facebook page, the LNP said:
“The attention of the Liberia National Police has been drawn to the constant habit of some unscrupulous citizens who are bent on posting false alarm information intended to instill fear in citizens and residents of the country.
These false alarm posters are posting horrible photos and videos of fake incidents which are solely intended to portray the country as unsafe and instill fear in the citizenry of the country,” the LNP release added.
“The attention of the Liberia National Police has been drawn to the constant habit of some unscrupulous citizens who are bent on posting false alarm information intended to instill fear in citizens and residents of the country. These false alarm posters are posting horrible photos and videos of fake incidents which are solely intended to portray the country as unsafe and instill fear in the citizenry of the country,” the LNP release added.