March 4, 2024
Monrovia – Within Two days after the reports of loss of lives by state security officers in both Grand Cape Mount County and the Township of Caldwell have raised serious concerns from several individuals in and out of Liberia.
Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman told reporters that some of his men sustain bullet wounds consistent with wounds of single barrel guns
At the press conference held at the National Headquarters of the Liberia National Police, Inspector General Col. Gregory Coleman disclosed the death of two protesters from the violence in Grand Cape Mount County who died because of shooting from officers of the Liberia National Police.
A peace protest by aggrieved residents of Golgoma, Grand Cape Mount County on Thursday, February 29, 2024, turned bloody as aggrieved protesters destroyed facilities of Bea Mountain, a mining company operating in the county.
At least two protesters were killed, and dozens injured. The protesters accused the company of bad labor practices. Since the company embarked on expansion last year, it has over four thousand employees and over six thousand contractors, many of whom are natives of the county.
At least two locals were reported dead while several others left wounded during the riot
The protesters were reportedly having a peaceful procession near the company’s facility. They had earlier vowed to continue until the management of the company listens to their demands.
A Police officer who was on the scene last Thursday told a local radio station in an interview and denied the allegation that the Police fired at the protesters.
“We did not fire a shot at anybody and even when our men were provoked by the protesters, we still did not retaliate,” he said.
However, addressing journalists over the weekend during his first press conference as Police IG, Col. Coleman under the new government said the protesters wounded nine police officers as some protesters were using single barrel raffles. In return, Col. Coleman said the police retaliated and two protesters were killed.
“As it relate to fire armed being in the protest, it is evidence, you all can go to JFK hospital, I will ask the doctors with the permission of the officers so that their medical records can be release to you all -indicating that their wounds were consistent with pellets of artisanal weapons just as the wounds of those who are deceased are consistent with the amination that we carried,” Police IG said.
Col. Coleman added: “Among the video that the LNP has already released online in real-time, you will see two of the protesters with single barrels, one person trying to reload the single barrel and the other person with the single barrel raffle in his hands. That is a clear indication that, yes, there were weapons in the crowd -from the video footage and consistent with the wounds of the police officers.”
According to him, 23 protesters were arrested. Three females and 20 males, the Inspector of the Liberia National Police.
Investigation to be free of Interference
Also, a day after the incident in Grand Cape Mount County, another incident took place in Caldwell Township between the Power Theft team and residents of the community. A man named Joecephus S. Tukpeh was beaten and allegedly killed by the power theft team.
“Yesterday, there was a situation in the Caldwell area involving the LEC Power Theft and residents. That incident resulted in one loss of life and that is also being investigated. Every member of that power theft team is currently here at the Headquarters of the Liberia National Police and are being investigated,” Col. Coleman said.
