We fire six rounds

January 10, at about 3:00a.m. was a horrifying moment for the chairman emeritus of ex-president Charles Ghankay Taylor’s former ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP)Chief Cyril Allen when a group of armed men barricaded his residence in Sand Beach Community, Duazon, along the Roberts International Airport highway in Margibi County.

Chief Allen sustained injuries on the back of his head after one of the robbers reportedly struck him with a cutlass when he had succeeded in entering the residence. The Liberia National Police has confirmed the armed robbers’ attack on Mr. Allen, but said the victim is in stable condition.

Narrating his ordeal to this paper on Wednesday, 11January via mobile phone, he detailed that the robbers, well-armed stormed his home with suppressive gunfire, adding that due to the heavy shooting, his private guards, who were equally armed responded by discharging about six to nine bullets at the attackers, which left some of them sustaining injuries, leaving blood stain on the front porch of his residence.

“I think my men fired about six to nine rounds at the robbers, and the intent of the exchange is to tell them they were meeting men. They learnt their lesson well because their blood spots are on my porch; in fact, we heard one of them screaming in severe pain during the exchange of fire”, Chief Allen narrated.

The gun battle, which lasted about 20 minutes, left Duazon Community residents in complete panic, with some fearing that this might have been a return of the dark days of the country.

Chief Allan, he is currently receiving medication at a local hospital Monrovia. The outspoken politician, who is in severe pain, said via mobile phone that the armed robbers made away with his laptop, gold watch, Masonic gold ring, passport and about US$300, among other valuables.

He said it was scaring and appalling for the country for armed men to walk into homes without any fear, stressing that this is something that should draw attention of the government.

When asked whether this could be politically motivated, Chief Allen, who once vied for the senatorial seat of Margibi County and lost, dismissed any political interference, but termed the action as group of desperate hustlers, who survive on the sounds of guns to get ends meet.

There has been no report of arrest from the incident, but this paper has also gathered that a vigorous search has been launched at hospitals here to identify any person with bullet wounds seeking medication.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-Editing by Jonathan Browne