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Chasing of 'Rogues' Disrupts Normal Activities

The Inquirer (Monrovia)
NEWS
September 14, 2004
Posted to the web September 14, 2004

By Timothy T. Seaklon
Monrovia
Concerned Marketers Mob Two to Death
Violence broke out yesterday morning in Monrovia when a mob of marketers and
other residents took to the streets in search of what they called 'hardened
rogues.'
According to sources in Central Monrovia, a group of concerned residents have
been holding late night meetings over the past 72 hours aimed at designing
strategies to curb the rising wave of robbery in mid-town.
Howbeit, lawlessness became the order yesterday when a mob comprising several
youths stormed the streets in search of criminals.
They ran through the streets of the city, targeting all of Monrovia's illicit
drugs dealing spots which are also breeding grounds for criminals.
According to information, it all started when a Fula trader whose name was not
known up to press time, was stabbed in his right eye early in the morning by
some suspected thieves who attempted robbing him of his goods at his Waterside
business center. It is not known whether the Fula trader died later, but eye
witnesses said he was rushed to hospital.
After that incident, some marketers selling in the area launched a counter
action taking into account the growing wave of robbery in the city.
The marketers' counter action extended into the suburb of West Point few
kilometers from the Waterside market resulting to the breaking down of some
eight houses and the setting ablaze of several other homes.
Televison images yesterday showed peacekeepers of the United Nations Mission in
Liberia(UNMIL) rescuing a child from a blazing house during the melee.
Following the marketers' brutal assault in West Point, some gangsters also
launched a counter offensive, thus sending the busy market center into total
chaos.
A marketer told The INQUIRER, 'since they want to be law unto themselves, we
have decided to close down our businesses and chase them out once and for all.'
Within the next minutes, a group of citizens took to the streets of midtown
Monrovia in search of ghettos which are known to be rendezvous of hardened
criminals and where the sale of illicit drugs continues unabatted.
From Gurley, Benson and Carey streets to other parts of central Monrovia,
violence became the order of the day as structures were broken down by the mob
while others were set ablaze.
The mob action resulted to several deaths in the city, from West Point, Gurley
Street and other parts, but there has been no independent confirmation from
government as to how many persons got killed during the melee.
A man was killed instantly on Gurley Street while other reports said a dead
body was found near the National Housing & Savings Bank at Waterside.
Some structures behind the Ministry of Defense on Benson Street came under
strong attack from the mob resulting to several sustaining injuries and the
destruction of many homes.
The city stood still for five hours with every public place closed until the
United Nations Mission in Liberia(UNMIL) troops and CIVPOL Police along with
officers of the Liberian National Police moved in to restore law and order.
Persons who were suspected as criminals and had been caught by the marauding
group were rescued by UNMIL peacekeepers and police in their joint operation.
A Justice Ministry release issued in the aftermath of yesterday's incident
said, 'in the firm determination of the state to continue to uphold, defend and
protect the rights of the citizens and residents of this country; and as a
direct consequence of the(today's) disturbances by some individuals, the
Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice is working in close
collaboration with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to bring the
situation under control.
The Ministry of Justice says that it views the action as an attempt to test the
firmness of the National Security and UNMIL and as such, has directed both
institutions to collaborate to effect the arrest of the perpetrators. The
Government of Liberia hereby assures business houses that appropriate measures
are bring put in place and will remain in place to guarantee public safety and
national stability generally.'

   

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