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Liberia: Government Launches Action Against Armed Robbery
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
28 April 2008
Posted to the web 28 April 2008
The Liberian government says it has commenced a drastic crackdown on armed robbers under a special operation code named, "Operation Thunderstorm."
Justice Minister Cllr. Philip Banks, who announced the operation, said it is intended to deal swiftly with the increasing wave of armed robbery activities in the country.
Addressing the press at the ministry last Friday, Minister Banks said under the new operation the security forces, would go after armed robbers in all places including in the various corners of the communities to deal with the upsurge in the crime.
Minister Banks said as part of the government's efforts to effectively deal with the crime, government is drafting the appropriate legislation to make armed robbery a non-bailable offense.
According to him his ministry is working in collaboration with the National Legislature to ensure that this is done.
Minister banks said the security forces, is prepared to go after armed robbers in their hideout stressing that the word should go forth that the operation is not for joke as those engaged in the practice, should pay heed to the government's warning and desist from the practice immediately.
He told the press that the decision to launch the operation and work toward making armed robbery a non-bailable offense was a decision that was unanimously adopted at a joint security meeting, which was attended by various heads of security agencies in the country.
The Liberian Attorney General added that to ensure that operation thunderstone is successful, the local security forces would work along with UNMIL, who is also prepare to give the local security the necessary backing and support to deal with the crime.
For her part, Police Director Col. Beatrice Munnah Sieh, who was also in attendance, said the LNP is prepare to use every means possible to deal with the crime.
Col. Sieh assured residents that with the launching of the operation they will sleep well as the police is prepare to combat the crime by going after the criminals, where ever they may go or be.
For some time now, armed robbery has intensified across the country thus creating fear and panic among peaceful citizens. The situation has intensified to the extend that some communities have organized neighborhood watch teams or what is otherwise known as "vigilant group," as a way of putting in placing some form of security protection for themselves because the police has not been able to successfully reach in all corners of the various communities to combat the crime.
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Due to the intensification of the act, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a recent nation-wide address to the nation expressed grave concern over the way how robbers were inflicting harms and harassing peaceful citizens who are trying to rebuild their life after many years of war. The President even threatened to take tougher action against robbers as a way of dealing with the situation
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