PHOTO: Police IG Patrick Sudue speaking with Journalists
By Garmah Never Lomo, Garmahlomo@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia- As insecurity remains a major challenge for citizens, the of 29 people killed in a stampede triggered by disadvantaged youths in the New Kru Town suburb of Monrovia Wednesday night has pushe police to declare war marauding criminal gangs known locally as “Zogos”.
Authorities on Thursday confirmed the death of at least 29 people, including women and children, attending a church crusade hosted by a popular Liberian cleric, Apostle Abraham Kromah of the Word of Life Church in New Georgia near Monrovia.
Eleven children and 15 women lost their lives, when the “Zogos” reportedly began attacking them with knives and other objects on the D.Tweh High School football pitch to dispossess them of their mobile phones, money and other belongings.
Photo: partial view of some of the victims as captured by Reporter Garmah Never Lomo
Of the 29 persons, 16 females including a pregnant woman were involved and two adult males, with 11 children who include five boys and six girls.
Fifteen persons are currently admitted at the Redemption Hospital suffering wound, some of them serious.
This is the highest number of citizens to have been victimized by the acts of the criminal gangs, whose narcotic drugs- ghetto hideouts have spread like wildfire in the capital, Monrovia and other parts of the country, with no strong measures so far been put in place to address the situation.
Most of the casualties have been deposited at the Redemption Hospital close by the D. Tweh pitch.
Speaking at the hospital during a visit by both police Inspector General, Patrick Sudue and Monrovia City Mayor, the police chief said measures will shortly be put in place to prevent reoccurrence of the situation that led to the deaths of at least 29 persons during Wednesday night crusade in New Kru Town.
But the question many are asking Liberian leader and police authorities is: why throughout the numerous complaints about these Zogos , there has been no actions?
According to Police IG Sudue, the entire country is bereaved and extended his sympathy to the bereaved famly members, adding that when the incident occurred on Wednesday night he made his way at the scene where he saw the deceased bodies.
IG Sudue said the organizers of the crusade didn’t inform the police to provide security for the event and that the police was never informed about the crusade.
He called on those organizing such programs with large crowds to always inform the to provide protection during and after such events.
The Liberian police IG lauded the Liberia National fire service and those responding officers who went on the scene to save lives.
Colonel Sudue said currently investigation is ongoing as to what led to the stampede.
He confirmed the death of 29 persons as the result of the sad incident that occurred on Wednesday night.
The police called on citizens to allow them do their work, recalling the recent incident that occurred at the Duala market where three Zogos were killed during a fire exchange with anti-robber unit.
IG Sudue recalled that during the recent Dula market incident, when criminal gangs were involved in shootout with the police, some member of the public went against them for killing the criminals, something he said was very regrettable to hear citizens defending Zogos.
For his part, Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee has called on every citizen to observe the three days announced for the mourning of those who loss lives at the result of the incident at D. Tweh football filed.
Mayor Koijee, the sad incident that occurred is beyond politics or religion.
He said on Friday, January 21,2022, they will be meet with the bereaved families on how they can coordinate with the government in the wake of the tragedy.
According to the Monrovia City Mayor, seventeen persons survived the incident and he has hailed the health workers for their tireless efforts in rescuing the survivors.