The NEWS (Monrovia)
George Bardue and Jimmey C. Fahngon
24 April 2008
Monrovia — Eight suspected armed robbers who have been arrested by officers of the Liberia National Police in Monrovia say they were hired to do "the job for US$450.00 on the Old Road." The eight are part of eighteen robbers who are also in police custody.
One of the robbers, Sonny Boye told reporters Wednesday at the Police headquarters where they were chained in handcuffs and put on display that a woman only identified as Princess asked him to collect his friends to accomplish armed robbery mission for her.
Wearing white T-shirt with bruises on his face, Sonny Boye explained "I was brought here for armed robbery. A woman called Princess sent us to carry out the operation on the Old Road; she told us to go after her friend who, she claimed, crooked her in their business."
Sunny Boye also claimed that Princess ordered him and others to rape the woman and take away her golden jewelries and money.
He said his group called 'bad boys' used cutlasses, knives and other deadly instruments against people.
"Princess is living on the Old Road; I am willing to show her anytime; she is our sponsor for the armed robbery operation," the suspected armed robber believed to be in his early twenties, he explained.
Sunny Boye said when he entered the house, he raped a lady and chopped a man who also put up resistance.
While Sunny Boye was explaining about the armed robbery incident, his colleague identified as Melvin rejected that Princess put them on the mission.
Melvin said a man called "Big Daddy" usually carries them on his motorcycle for armed robbery operations.
"Sunny Boye is lying; no woman called Princess ordered us to engage in armed robbery. The person who always carries us for that mission is called Big Daddy; the other day a CID Officer identified as Johnny arrested us along with Big Daddy, but Big Daddy was released because they said he was their informer," Melvin told Police Director Beatrice Sieh who wanted to know why they engage in such mission.
Prior to comments made by the suspected robbers, Police Director Sieh told a news conference that this month has seen prevalence of armed robbery.
She said from April 14- 22, 2008, several homes including their occupants were affected as a result of armed robbery.
Col. Sieh earlier told an UNMIL press briefing Wednesday that 18 armed robbers have been arrested by the Liberian National Police in collaboration with the United Nations Police in Monrovia between April 16-22, 2008.
She said three of the armed robbers were killed but did not explain circumstances leading to their murder.
The Police Director said the rest are being processed for prosecution.
She acknowledged the increase in armed robbery especially in the Monrovia area.
Sieh revealed that 47 cases of armed robbery were reported throughout Liberia from April 1-22, with Monrovia accounting for 40.
She said the police and UNMIL were doing everything to minimize crime, but pointed that the force was faced with logistical problem for which they cannot effectively perform.
The Police boss said only 450 gallons of gas was given to the police to carry out its duty for April 2008, adding "this is not enough; how we can use 450 gallons of gas to provide security throughout Liberia?"
However, she said the police was committed to providing security for the people of Liberia.
Based on this, she said the police and UNMIL have increased the number of patrols in Monrovia areas where armed robbery is on the increase.
The Police boss called on the public for assistance in order to combat armed robbery especially by providing information as to where the armed robbers were living.
Also speaking at the press briefing, the acting Commander of the United Nations Police (UNPOL) Henrik Stierblad said the Mission and its Liberian counterparts were planning to launch what he called "targeted operations" to help curb armed robbery in the country.
He added that following this operation, another operation named and styled "search and seizure operation" would also be instituted.
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