By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
PHOTO: Few of the Pleebo businesses forced to close
Several business centers in Pleebo City, Maryalnd County were closed down for days after criminal activities has gone on the increase in this southeastern Liberian city, situated more than 611kilometers from Monrovia.
According to owners of businesses, on several occasions they have been threatened, robbed or placed under gun point with personal items and goods taken away by criminal gangs.
They complained that the situation has recently caused them to lose unspecified cash and items which some of them borrowed to boost their businesses.
Amandu Blade, one of the victims narrated how on Monday July 5, 2021 he was attacked by six people who he claimed were holding cutlasses and knifes and demanded him to give them some huge sum of Money or risk been kill.
“We are suffering every day; they people can come and take our things away and sometimes take our money,” Mr. Balde said.
“They came here to my place on Monday and beat me, asking me to give all my money, but I said no so I look at them taking all my things and only few they left here,” according to the local businessman.
Mr. Balde wonders what have they done to deserve such treatment and mentioned that if there is nothing done by national security to curb the situation they as business owners will take another actions that could push Government to do something.
Other businesses in Pleebo cowed into closing by robbery
“We will take different action if the is nothing done to ensure all these things stop because we can’t be losing every time,” one business owner said.
Meanwhile, Maryland County local authorities is yet to speak to the situation as the business owners vowed to remain close until intervention from the Government.
Maryland County, which is located in the southeast part of Liberia, has since had inadequate security personnel thou possessing serious threat to the County our reporter said.
It can be recalled that the only vehicle belonging to the Liberia National Police and use for patrol at night was destroyed by rioters during a protest action in the County recently.