Sime Darby riot under control

The Liberian National Police say violent protest at the Sime Darby Plantation in Bomi County over the reported disappearance of a female patient from the company’s hospital has been brought under control.

Police spokesperson Sam Collins, says following the intervention of the Liberia National Police, the situation has been brought under control. Riot erupted in the plantation on Monday, April 4, 2016, leaving company’s properties damaged, including palm farm gutted by fire.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday in Monrovia, Collins said the protest at the plantation started following the disappearance of a 40-year-old woman, KumbaFallah, who had gone to the company’s hospital for medication, but did not return home.

He said vigorous search is ongoing for the missing woman, while several arrests have also been made by the police in connection with the violence that proceeded news of the disappearance. Meanwhile, reports reaching this paper from the Sime Darby Plantation say Madam KumbaFallah, who went missing from the company’s clinic on Monday, has been found between New Camp and Montgomery Camp in the plantation, after a thorough search by police.

In an earlier press release issued by the company, Sime Darby management promised to cooperate with local authorities in ensuring the missing woman is found. The release also noted that KumbaFallah is not an employee of Sime Darby Plantation, but a resident of Gbah town, and was offered free medical services at the company’s medical facilities.

Sime Darby provides medical services to its employees and their families as well as other locals in the area. Sime Darby Management says it is still counting losses sustained as a result of the violent protest, while local chiefs and community leaders in the proximity of the company have reportedly regretted the incident.

By Bridgett Milton-Editing by Jonathan Browne