Montserrado County – Public frustration boiled over following an unprecedented safety operation by the Liberia Nationwide Police (LNP) on Saturday, which introduced site visitors to a standstill and stranded tons of of passengers alongside the primary Kakata-Monrovia freeway for greater than two hours.
By: Yawah Y. Jaivey
The disruption got here as President Joseph Boakai was anticipated to journey to Gbarnga, Bong County, to attend the 4th graduation ceremony of the Bong Technical School.
FrontPageAfrica reporter in Margibi County can verify that, law enforcement officials — some closely armed — established a number of roadblocks at strategic factors together with the Margibi-Montserrado border, Kingsville Quantity 7, and Mount Barclays. The lockdown, which caught motorists and passengers off-guard, was reportedly put in place to safe the President’s route.
The abrupt site visitors halt affected over 100 industrial and personal automobiles, stranding businesspeople, market girls, healthcare staff, college students, and every day commuters. The shortage of prior public notification and the heavy-handed method by safety forces triggered widespread outrage, each on the bottom and throughout social media.
Many passengers, together with these transporting perishable items, have been compelled to attend inside scorching, overcrowded automobiles with no details about once they could be allowed to proceed. For some, the delays meant lacking medical appointments, work shifts, and enterprise alternatives.
Journalist Emmanuel Degleh, who was amongst these delayed, described the scene as chaotic and poorly coordinated.
“It was irritating and disorganized,” Degleh stated. “Solely automobiles touring from Pink-Mild to Kakata have been allowed to maneuver, whereas those coming from Kakata to Monrovia have been fully blocked. Individuals have been confused, offended, and helpless.”
“This impacted lots of people who rely on this route for his or her every day enterprise,” Degleh added. “It wasn’t simply an inconvenience—it disrupted livelihoods.”
Whereas authorities haven’t issued a proper rationalization for the dimensions of the safety operation, the backlash from the general public has been swift and intense. Many Liberians have characterised the roadblocks as an indication of rising authoritarianism beneath the Boakai administration.
“That is troubling. It’s a re-emergence of tyranny in our nation,” stated Fb consumer Aloysius Namue, echoing a sentiment that rapidly unfold on-line beneath the banner of “#CreepingDictatorship.”
Opposition chief Sekou Kalasco Damaro was among the many most vocal critics, calling the motion “the reincarnation of ex-Liberian President Ghankay [Charles G. Taylor],” in reference to Liberia’s former president, who was identified for deploying elite safety forces just like the SOD (Particular Operations Division) and ATU (Anti-Terrorist Unit) to suppress dissent.
Social media platforms have been flooded with comparisons to Taylor’s regime. Justine Y. Kanneh posted: “It’s manifesting itself — my Liberian folks, the reintroduction of Charles Taylor’s SOD and ATU.” One other consumer, Sir Norman, wrote: “Info dissemination is a matter. That is uncommon and regarding.”
Many observers concern that if such actions develop into normalized, they may sign a harmful shift in Liberia’s democratic trajectory.
“As we speak, it’s a roadblock for safety; tomorrow, it may very well be censorship or suppression,” stated activist Mary Weah. “We’ve seen this film earlier than—and we all know the way it ends.”
Political analyst Dr. Nathaniel Gaye described the scenario as “a governance take a look at” for the Boakai administration.
“Whereas safety is vital, transparency and public communication are much more very important in a democracy. The truth that folks have been left at midnight, actually and figuratively, for hours, with none official replace, is unacceptable,” Dr. Gaye famous.
Not everybody noticed the police actions as extreme. Some residents referred to as for understanding, citing the necessity to respect the workplace of the presidency.
“Even if you happen to spend the entire day right here, it’s not a foul factor. Respect the presidency first,” stated commuter Paul Togbah. “That is about nationwide management, and safety ought to come first.”
Throughout the Unity Get together — the ruling institution — officers and supporters defended the roadblocks as mandatory for nationwide safety.
Former Consultant of Margibi County, Ben Fofana, Vice Chair for Governmental and Worldwide Relations, acknowledged: “These precautions are taken for categorized causes and happen globally. You might not perceive on account of lack of expertise in regards to the President’s safety particulars. However such measures usually are not irregular in state safety operations.”
William Zankpah Mabiah Greatness, one other celebration loyalist, added: “President Boakai has traveled that route many instances, and this has by no means occurred. If it’s taking place now, it’s due to credible safety intelligence. Let’s cease politicking and respect the safety protocols put in place.”
The Liberia Nationwide Police (LNP) and the Government Safety Service (EPS) have remained silent on the problem. Nevertheless, an EPS insider, who spoke to FrontPageAfrica on situation of anonymity, stated the lockdown was a part of a plan to ensure the President’s security throughout his motion to and from Bong County.
“The EPS is liable for the protection of the President and VIPs. These sorts of operations are coordinated in response to intelligence. It could not at all times be seen to the general public, however it’s our mandate,” the supply stated.
