Man Arrested With Arms in Lofa

The Liberia National Police or LNP in Voinjama, Lofa County has arrested a 37- year old Guinean national for illegal possession of single barrel gun shells at the border.State Radio’s Lofa county correspondent said the suspect – identified as Mohamed Ali, was apprehended recently in the county while attempting to enter the country.

He said Mr. Ali – a resident of the Lesco community in Voinjama, left for Guinea and on his way back to Liberia, he was caught with 25 rounds of a single barrel gun by border officers of the Liberia National Police and the Bureau of Immigration.

According to the Correspondent, the suspect was placed behind bars following his arrest at a local police station awaiting court trial. The correspondent, however, indicated that Mr. Ali told the police that he had bought the single barrel rounds in Guinea for business purpose, further informing the police that he was not the only person in such business.

In its recent report to Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms recommended that ordinary citizens be prohibited from possessing arms in the country.

Making the presentation to the Vice President at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chairman of the Small Arms Commission, Mr. James M. Fromayan, said Liberia has a keener understanding about the need for effective control of conventional arms, of their ownership, use and transfer across borders.

“Our own terrible war was made much worse by the ready supply and movement of weapons within Liberia and from other countries to anyone who wanted them,” Mr. Fromayan added, noting that for this reason, he and others at the Commission worked closely with partners, including the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Legislature, which has now passed into Law, the Firearms and Ammunition Control Act.

Mr. Fromayan said Liberia, being a member of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), must all to be fully compliant with that instrument, which it signed in June 2013 and ratified in November 2014.

Providing an answer to those who may be wondering why the country should be bothered with the ATT since it is now peaceful, Mr. Fromayan said only a quick glance at the news each day will indicate how the out-of-control arms trade continues to wreak havoc around the globe.

By Lewis S. Teh-Edited by George Barpeen