The Armed Forces of Liberia discloses the arrest of two individuals impersonating as soldiers.
Chief of Staff Maj./Gen. Prince C. Johnson, III, who made the disclosure here Tuesday, 5 February says the imposters are being investigated by the army.
Addressing hundreds of youth and students representing the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) and the Liberia National Student Union or LINSU, as part of Armed Forces Day 2019 Citizens Engagement Roundtable held at the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) on Camp Johnson Road in Monrovia, Maj./Gen. Johnson urges the public to report people impersonating as AFL soldiers, including misconducts by legitimate soldiers to the Liberia National Police (LNP).
He says this is the first instance civic procedure, which shall notify the AFL Liaison Officer working along with the police in handling such situation.
The outreach is being held on the Theme: “Building a Force for Good through Service and Welfare”, ahead of the official celebration of Armed Forces Day on February 10, 2019.
The Chief of Staff did not however disclose names of the arrested impersonators, but notes that a soldier of the Armed Forces of Liberia may be arrested by the police, investigated and prosecuted, once that soldier violates the Laws of Liberia.
He recalls instances where soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia violated the rights of peaceful citizens and they were severely punished in accordance with law.
General Johnson recounts responsibilities of soldiers of the AFL, including civil duty to the State and its people as well as engagement with citizens, among others.
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Speaking of recruitment, education and medical benefits and other incentives for female soldiers of the AFL and their dependants, Brigadier General Geraldine J. George encourages female graduates from universities and high schools to take advantage by applying for military service, noting that the army offers lots of opportunities for career development and growth.
She says there is nothing in the army that male soldiers can do, which female soldiers cannot do, stressing that it takes courage, resilience, and commitment to serve in the National Army which is achievable by being discipline and law abiding.
Earlier, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Zeogar Wilson, highlights gains by the Government of Liberia in building human resource and economic empowerment for the youth through smallholder’s loans to establish businesses in a group of eight persons thereby, giving them some livelihood as human beings.
Minister Wilson discloses that the Ministry has also cultivated 25 acres of land with agriculture products thru support from Government and donors, adding that these initiatives are done through community-based participation and support.
In remarks, the Presidents of the Federation of Liberian Youth, Amos Williams, and the Liberia National Students Union, Mohammed G. Kamara, both express gratitude to the Ministry of National Defense for the frank exchanges between students and the Military, something they describe as first in history.
The two youth leaders urge the AFL to take similar awareness to market places and in densely populated communities to educate the public on the workings of the army.This year’s Armed Forces Day will be officially celebrated on Monday, February 11th. -as Chief of Staff Gen. Johnson leads outreach campaign
By Emmanuel Mondaye –Editing by Jonathan Browne
