Edwood Dennis
14 April 2008
Over 500 children abducted by former fighter of the defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) Mango Manlor, are reportedly living in captivity in Nimba County.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Chairman, Cllr. Jerome Verdier told a news conference last Thursday that the institution was able to discover the children in captivity in Nimba County recently when the Commission through the Ministry of Justice launched an investigation and search for a former NPFL fighter Mango Manlor.
He said the inquiry was able to reveal that Mango Manlor abducted the over 500 children in 1990 and distributed them to his family members, friends as either domestic or manual laborers on their farms or as foster children.
The research, Cllr. Verdier said was launched after Gladys Arthur appeared before the TRC Public Hearings in January to explain her ordeal. She then disclosed that her twin brother was captured by a former fighter of the NPFL and taken to Nimba County.
After almost years in captivity, the children are said to be reunited with their relatives. The TRC Chairman Cllr. Jerome Verdier told journalist has expressed delight over the success of the work.
Prior to discovering little Arthur, the Ministry of Justice arrested Mr. Mango Manlor and later released him after he (Manlor) agreed to cooperate with whatever efforts intended to ensure the release of the children.
Citizens of those Counties at some point in time were at loggerheads with each other over the captivity of their children. Back in 2002, the Talking Drum Studio launched a campaign aimed at breaking the two groups together to iron out whatever differences there were in the wake claims and counter-claims over abduction and captivity.
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I just hope that the organizations that are poping up here and there in Liberia really engage in some investigation and the media should also engage in investigation before put stories out there. For me personally I am from nimba. It might be the case in the whole of liberia. The were parents taken from their children during the war. Some, if not most of these children were taken by some fighters and brought how to their famileis. Most of those who I know and heard of, were treated as family member and not slaves.
We all know that during war there are some uncontrollable situation but, there need to be proper investigations before we make claims and legally hole people liable. Hopefully corruption will one day be at a minimal in our country.