PHOTO: A building reportedly set ablaze by angry mob
By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- Amidst a long-running culture of violence, another Liberian county has again fallen victim to mob justice, as a violent protest against last week’s killing of a commercial motorcyclist in the the commercial city of Pleebo, southeastern Maryland County escalated on Wednesday, over 591 kilometers from Monrovia.
A large number of angry mob have broken into the Harper Central Prison, leaving scores of inmates behind bars to escape on March 31, 2020. And the angry mob are also said to have resorted to arson attacks.
The www.newspublictrust.com has gathered that hundreds of angry men and women, including children were involved in the latest wave of violent protest and storming of the main prison. They are demanding immediate justice for the suspected killer of the motorcyclist..
During his recent tour of counties in central Liberia, President George Manneh Weah spoke against the use of mob violence or mob justice by youths and other Liberians to seek redress to situation, urging citizens to respect the rule of law no matter what their grievances are.
The Liberian government has dispatched a contingent of anti riot police, including ERU and PSU to the area to quell the wave of violence. So far, it is not known whether there have been casualties.
On Tuesday, Information Minister Ledgerhood Rennie called for calm and said the Liberian government was doing everything in line with the laws of the country to bring the situation under control.
Wednesday’s wave of violence was said to have been triggered by a recent statement made by Maryland County Attorney, Philip Wheagar on a local Radio Phoenix that the case concerning the alleged murder of motorcyclist Mordecial Nyemah, in which suspect, Moses Mlama has been arrested will be placed on the 4thJudicial Circuit Court docket for trial during the August A.D. 2021 Term of Court.
Moses Mlama allegedly murdered Mordecial Nyemah, a senior student at the Pleebp High School during the Morning hours of last week Thursday along the Maryland-Grand Kru highway.
Nyemah, also a motorcyclist, had gone on his daily hustle having been sent out of school for flexibility fees was contacted by the Suspect Moses Malma for travel purpose and was allegedly murdered in cold blood the same day sources close to the family disclose.
From observation the angry mob broke into the facility during the afternoon hours of Tuesday, March 29, 2021 with the aim of flogging Moses Mlama allegedly being held for Killing Mordecail Nyemah.
Earlier violent disruptions
On Tuesday, thousands of Motorcyclists along with women blocked major roads leading to both Harper and Pleebo cities, closing down schools, shops, government agencies and ministries and economically locked down southeastern Liberia’s biggest commercial city.
The angry crowd vandalized the Harper Central Prison breaking down the main gate the facility, documents from the office of the Prison Superintendent were brunt to ashes.
The one and only vehicle that the Liberia National Police has was also
destroyed in the process, as the angry mob forced their way through, it has been rumoured that several Police officers including Security at the Prison Compound has been seriously injured and they are undergoing treatment at the James Jenkins Dossein Hospital in Harper.
AFL soldiers also dispatched
The angry crowd then looted the entire facility taking away computers, reams of paper, rice, oil, beans others are bathing and washing Soap and moving from cell to cell, giving inmates their sudden freedom.
Motorcyclists in Harper and Pleebo cities have denied their involvement in this operation, but alleged that it was the work of wayward/street youths referred to as “Zogoes”.
Meanwhile, the Maryland County Legislative Caucus through its Chairman Representative Isaac Roland Blalu has condemned the violence act of Citizens in the county and Harper to be precise for taking the Law into the hands.
Rep. Blalu expressed outrage about the violent act and said he is disappointed and ashamed about such information coming from his homeland.
The Lawmaker disclosed that Security officers including members of the Arm Forces of Liberia, Police Support Unit, Emergency Response Unit, Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency and the Liberia National Police have all been dispatched to Maryland to restore order and normal activities.
The head of the Maryland County Legislative Caucus encouraged citizens in this County to make use of the rule of law, when he spoke on Seal FM 90.5 in Harper.