PHOTO: LIS chief Robert Budy
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Commissioner General of the Liberia Immigration Service has written a letter to the Ministry of Justice proposing the setting up of a special integrated joint border security task force, in the wake of increase of terrorism in the West African region.
Colonel Robert Budy noted that his decision followed several attacks by terrorists at the Ivorian-Burkina Faso border, killing some soldiers and other security forces.
Col. Budy made the disclosure when he spoke at the joint closing program marking the end of the basic firearms qualification course for 194 officers of the Liberia Immigration Service and the Liberia National Police at the LNP Training Academy in Paynesville.
According to him, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) will command the integrated border security task force if it approved by the Minister of Justice, Counselor Frank Musa Dean.
The LIS Commissioner General pointed out that another batch of one hundred immigration officers will be forwarded for training in the basic firearms qualification course so as to strengthen the border patrol unit.
Col. Budy maintained that the Liberian government has since three years ago procured weapons purposely to arm the border patrol unit during the drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia.
Police IG Patrick Sudue
“Regrettably,,” he went on,” the government did not provide funding in order to train the LIS officers on the usage of the weapons because the border patrol unit is the arm wing of the LIS that will be deployed in remote forest at borders between Liberia and Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.”
He revealed that most of the foreigners entering Liberia illegally see the country as a soft target prompting them to plant cash crop, hunt endangered spices and mine gold and diamond illegally
In remarks, the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Patrick Sudue warned officers of the LNP and LIS against been trigger happy because it has the propensity to bring bad image on the security forces in the country.
According to him, all officers who will be assigned at the border should be mindful on the handling of arms in order not to create problem in the diplomatic relations between Liberia and neighboring countries.
LIS officers who completed the training
The LNP Inspector General admonished officers , who are very temperament leave armed unit of the LIS and the police force.
“Never advance your weapon on what you do not want to destroy because pointing gun at people arbitrarily constitute a violation of human rights.”
According to the police boss, there is nothing like warning shot in the police manual because any officer who discharges firearm anyhow, will be investigated to account for the rounds.
“We will not tolerate the braking of the cardinal rules on the handling of firearms and we will not accept excuse for missing weapon and ammunitions.”
For his part, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Major General Prince Johnson , claimed that the arms and ammunitions that the LIS and the LNP are about to be used have been in the safety custody of the AFL since they were brought in the country by the United Nations Mission in Liberia.
Police officers who completed the training
According to him, the manner in which the graduates will handle these weapons will show to the Liberian people that they have been trained to protect lives and properties.
“We should not do things that will break back those old memories that brought about the restructuring of the entire security structures in the country,” he said; adding : “ you must understand the standard of operation as some of you will be given the power to take these weapons home.”
“The misusage of these weapons will have negative implications on all of us in the security sector and even when you are in civilian clothes , the weapons that will be with you not supposed to be exposed.”
He thanked the United States government and other international partners that have worked in restructuring the entire security forces in Liberia over the years
The program was graced by representatives from the office of the Presidential Advisor on National Security, the United States Embassy, among others.