Huge police deployment in R/Gee

The Liberia National Police has deployed riot forces, including the Police Support Unit (PSU) and the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) in River Gee County, southeast Liberia, following bloody violence waged by angry mob in retaliation to the death of a motorcyclist.

Calm is said to have returned to the county following last weekend’s violence in which a police station, truck and the Flag of Liberia were set ablaze by angry mob. The victim, Samuel P. Choloplay, died instantly last week when a truck he had just overtaken at a deep curve fatally hit him from the rear.

A source says the motorbike failed to accelerate just after overtaking the truck in the curve because of a chain, which automatically disabled further movement. Speaking to The NewDawn Wednesday, River Gee County Attorney, Wesseh A. Wesseh, said heavy riot police from both Maryland and Grand Gedeh – neighboring counties, are deployed at the incident scene to beef up the security strength there.

Attorney Wesseh said officers from Monrovia led by the police Chief of Crimes Service Division arrived in River Gee Wednesday to strengthen security. He further disclosed that 15 persons have been arrested so far by the police for investigation into the burning down of a police station, the Flag of the Republic of Liberia the commercial truck that was involved in the accident.

The alleged ringleader of the mob, Bobby Jalawah is still on the run. The deceased victim, Choloplay was buried on Sunday, August 9, according to Atty. Wesseh, and police are taking statement from the truck driver identified as Bangalie Konneh.

The driver had reported himself to a police station hosting a checkpoint between Kalipo Karnweaken and Jolowroken in River Gee County when the angry mob burnt down his truck and chased him at the police station in demand of his living body, something the police could not afford.

The mob tussled with the police and eventually overpowered the officers before burning down the police station. By Winston W. Parley – Editing by Jonathan Browne