Nimba lacks adequate border security

Most border entries in Nimba County are said to be without Immigration officers, including the Butuo Detail at the Liberia-Ivory Coast border, which has only two officers from the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization.

Two BIN border patrol officers are deployed at the Behwalay Detail with another two at Gborplay border, while Kenlay border has one patrol officer. Yekapa border with neighboring Guinea has three officers and Ganta main border, another three followed by the Loguatuo Detail near the border with Ivory Coast with five officers, among others.

A recent tour by The NewDawn Nimba correspondent of 48 border entries with neighbouring Ivory Coast and Guinea saw more crossing points virtually empty without presence of State security forces that should be there.

Our correspondent said out of the 48 border entries with Guinea and Ivory Coast, Liberian border guards are deployed at only nine. The remaining 39 entries are without border security and are being penetrated by illegal immigrants.
During a recent training conducted by Mitigating Land Dispute in Liberia [MLDL] or Kalzen, Nimba County BIN Commander Oqueewon Gono, commended Kalzen for the level of training provided his officers, including donation of motorbikes to ensure effective patrol.

Commander Gono confirmed that the county’s porous borders lack adequate manpower to conduct effective patrol throughout Nimba. He disclosed that at least 100 BIN officers are expected to take up assignment at the 48 border points in Nimba County.

Former Public Works Minister Attorney Samuel Kofi Woods, who delivered the Armed Forces Day Oration in February this year, emphasized the need to support border security across Liberia. By Franklin Doloquee, Nimba – Editing by Jonathan Browne