Police arrest many amidst vandalism
By p. Clarence Jackson. latifahkpah172@gmail.com
Gbarnga, Liberia- Police in Liberia’s central Bong County have carried out a mass arrest of people for allegedly looting and vandalizing facilities of a Turkish Company, MNG Gold, following a tragic motor accident that led to the deaths of four people earlier this week.
Last Monday, November 5, 2018, a Toyota Hilux Pickup belonging to a Chinese company contracted by MNG Gold ran into a motorcycle, killing the passenger and rider, as well as two other persons who were coming from their farms in Sayewheh Town. This town is situated in Boisen District, Bong County.
Some of those arrested in Bong County
The fatal road accident sparked uncontrollable tensions among locals, which led to looting and vandalism.
This is the latest in a series of mob violence incidence seen across Liberia.
The Bong County Police Detachment say they have arrested 55 persons in connection to the vandalizing of the properties of MNG Gold, a Turkish Mining Company operating g in the area.
Immediately after the accident, angry crowd set ablaze the vehicle and later moved into the Company’s facilities nearby, ransacking and looting whatever they could carry.
Several eyewitnesses told www.newspublictrust.com that the angry mob cut off the entire electricity supply at the company’s facilities, causing a blackout for several hours, while the looting was taking place.
An employee of the Company, who begged not to be named said: ”We were very afraid because the entire area was dark for almost two hours, but our Technicians later put on the small generator at which time the entire place has been looted.”
Some of the looted Bong gold company retrieved by Police
Few hours later, the national Police Support Unit (PSU) officers from the Gbarnga Regional Justice and Security Hub responded to ensure the protection of lives and properties.
Bong County Police Detachment Commander, Col. Fredrick Nappy, who is still in the area with a team of Senior Police Officers from Monrovia, told www.newspublictrust.com that the Company’s entire facilities were looted.
“If you came to Sayewheh town at the moment, you will know that the people really cause the Company serious damage,” Commander Nappy said.
“We have arrested fifty five persons including men and women in connection with the looting after surveillance report from the CCTV security Camera,” he said.
Col. Nappy said, some of the suspects have already admitted entering the Company’s facility during the night of the incident.
“Although calm has returned here, more arrests will be made today, because we are still getting information about people in connection with the looting of the facility,” the local Police Commander said.
On Tuesday, Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf, Bong County Superintendent Esther Walker and the Chairman of the Bong County Legislative Caucus Senator Henry Yallah as well as Representative Albert Hills, who represents this District in the House, visited Sayewheh town and the Company’s facilities.
The officials said their visit was part of efforts to get first hand information about the overall situation in the area.
During a meeting with the citizens in Sayewheh, Minister Sirleaf and other officials assured the locals that all will be done to ensure their relatives killed in the motor accident are given a befitting burial.
The Internal Affairs Minister and the other government officials however condemned in the strongest terms, the action of some citizens who looted the company’s facilities because of the situation.
Before the accident, there had been growing tensions between the people of Sayewheh Town and MNG Gold for several months over allegations that the Company was not living up to the implementation of projects under the mineral development agreement (MDA) and the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the citizens, allegations the Company has persistently denied.
Recently, the people of Sayewheh town again accused the Company of using Chemicals that are affecting their children who are attending the Sayewheh town Public school.
At the moment, citizens in Bong County are divided over the current situation in Sayewhen. Some people believed that although the accident led to the deaths of four citizens, who lives are precious, the people should not have burnt the vehicle and looted the Company’s facilities.
Others are arguing that there have been several early warning sounds coming from the area as the result of consistent conflict situation between the Company and the people but the leadership of the County and Caucus did nothing to intervene and resolve the situation.