Liberia: Armed Robbers Becoming Sophisticated - but Police Director Massaquoi Unveils Plan of Action

As the nation's capital with its environs continues to grief pathetically from the horror and terror perpetrated in the various communities by hardcore criminals mainly armed robbers, the Director of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Chris Massaquoi has come under a barrage of criticisms and condemnation for not doing enough to curtail the menace and has been told to step down.

Of late, several communities in the city of Monrovia have been reportedly badly terrorized by roaming armed robbers wounding poor peaceful and defenseless citizens and making away with their hard earned belongings, and despite all efforts applied to contact the police to come to their rescue, disappointment is all that they get in return as in most cases the police will not show up and just in case they ever attempt to come, it is long after the criminals have caused the damage and left before they come in.

Amidst the public outcry regarding the agony that continues to be inflicted on the peaceful and defenseless people in their various communities by these armed robbers which is becoming a perpetual nightmare confronting them, (the people) thus calling for the resignation of the boss of the police, an occupant of the Old Road Community, Mr. Yekeh Kolubah cited moments that the community was constantly placed under siege by armed robbers who plundered people's valuables without the police coming in for them in spite of the all many calls to the police thereby urgently adding his voice for the Chief of the police to step aside.

Mr. Kolubab in a phone-in program hosted by a local television station in Monrovia Wednesday, was critical with the authority of the police's inability to level up to the challenge pose by the criminals and as such exposing the people to the attacks carried out by the latter without any thought of fear for the police which is disturbing and highly frustrating.

But at the regular Thursday (weekly) news conference hosted by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Director Massaquoi unveils the plan of action that will enable the police to provide the need security by beefing up its night patrol. According to him, there are some vehicles marked night patrol and put aside strictly for such operation and will not be used by any other person. He also noted that the city has been divided into blocks and cells in order to effectively carry out the patrol and be responsive to the calls of the people.

Police Director Massaquoi conceded that the armed robbers are becoming increasingly sophisticated whereas the LNP is not properly equipped and adequately prepared to fight armed robbers, adding that the LNP cannot battle armed robbers with Batons.

He said that the LNP understands the anger in the public as it relates to the recent incident and was extending his deepest apology on behalf of the LNP to all those who in recent time were victimized by armed robbers.

Using the occasion to congratulate partisans, supporters and sympathizers of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) for conducting themselves in an orderly manner, Inspector General Massaquoi stated that the LNP doesn't have the capacity to be everywhere at the same time.

Touching on Yekeh's, criticism, Director Massaquoi pointed out that the bitterness of Yekeh is rooted in his dismissal from the LNP due to his bad record and is now fighting him because of position.

He explained that Yekeh has been asking him to be reconsidered for employment, but the LNP has gathered information that Yekeh is found of allegedly getting outside of his house naked at night and allegedly encouraging armed robbers to harass peaceful citizens, adding, "we are watching and keeping a close eye on him.

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Comments Post a comment

  • ucyiam53
    Nov 9 2012, 22:13

    WHAT'S THE POINT?

    DOLO MACK WRITES,

    Some accusations and counter accusations are necessarily to be tasted , others to be swallowed, few to be chewed and digested. Some curiously and some with deligence and attention.What's the point if you and Yeeke will at this time play the Human Rights game where you beat your pregnant wife on the butt, and the Human Right activist tells her to say that you kicked her in the stomach. The point of haven a marked police vehicles that nobody will touch until in the night is not a strategy or crime fighting plan.

    Then, that which the laws provide if it's to be measrued while these would be criminals have signaled their intentions, may I suggest that the police Department and other law enforcement entities concerned search and cordon Monrovia and it's enviorns for war like matterials like the police did before since you have divided the city into block. After the search and cordon, anybody the police find with war like materials should face the weight of the laws.

  • wondorr
    Nov 12 2012, 00:59

    The government of Liberia should start to take responsibilities for the security and welfare of its people. In order for economic growth to come to any society, there has to be security guarantee for the residents of that society. The government of Liberia has to prioritize the security of all Liberians and residents in general. How do they expect investors to invest in Liberia? Security is the core to economic development. I will suggest that the government trains more police officers with as SWAT members, in order to combat the armed robberies in the country. Chris Massaquoi should improve the Liberian National Police relationship with the general public. This relationship improvement should be done through community policing. The police should work with the community to solve the problems pose by armed robbers. The police should have informants to provide information on criminals who live in their communities.