Prominent Liberia student activist and Standard bearer of the Student Unification Party (SUP) at the state owned University of Liberia, Mr. Martin K. N. Kollie has been explaining his weekend ordeal after he was allegedly attacked by some state security personnel.
The Liberia National police say they are investigating the case.
Mr. Kollie said it all transpired last Friday night (June 14, 2019) at the Renaissance Entertainment Center in the Monrovia suburb of Du-port Road in Paynesville.
Speaking in an interview, the vocal student activist, who was one of the organizers of the June 7 anti-government peaceful protest, said he came from central Monrovia to drop one of his boys off to Du-Road because it was late.
Student Kollie disclosed that not besides dropping his colleague to Du-port Road, he also went to see somebody at the entertainment center. But as soon as he arrived at there, men from the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) arrived on scene and took him by his trousers. And he then saw himself in the air and they wanted to bundle him in their waiting car, which engine was on and beating.
Mr. Kollie explained that after he resisted being thrown into the LDEA officers’ vehicle, he was severely beaten with iron on his foot, something which has caused him walking difficulty. Rescue however later came his way, as some people rushed to the scene.
The SUP leader said that prior to his beaten last Friday night, he had received several phone calls from unknown men threatening him that he will pay for his participation in the June 7 protest.
Furthermore, Mr. Kollie dismissed rumors circulating in the public that he asked LDEA officers to buy him drink.
He said that he does not even know them. How can he ask somebody to buy him drink and how much for drink so much that he cannot afford to buy for himself?
Meanwhile, Liberia National Police spokesman Moses Carter has clarified that student leader Martin Kollie was never arrested by the LNP nor taken to any police depot or station, as is being insinuated by some members of the public, especially on social media. He urged the public to remain calm.
Police spokesman Carter called on the public to remain hopeful, as the LNP Zone 5 base investigators are taking statements from all persons of interest in this matter.
Mr. Carter said a report will be released to the public on the outcome of the investigation early next week. Report by Garmah Never Lomo