SACLEPEA, Nimba County – Tragedy struck in Nimba County as four individuals, including a police officer, a witness, a rape suspect, and a member of the Community Watch forum, lost their lives in a fatal motor incident. The group was en route from Tappita to Sanniquellie when the incident occurred, resulting in their immediate deaths.
By D. Franklin Doloquee
According to the police in Tappita, the suspect, Larmie Samuo, a 38-year-old man, was facing allegations of rape. The key witness in the case was Blessings Thomas, a 14-year-old girl who bravely stood ready to testify against him.
FPA gathered that the police officers, in coordination with the community watch forum, were resolute in their mission to transport the suspect from Tappita to Sanniquellie in Nimba County for further investigation. Junior Walkbeah, a dedicated member of the community watch forum, was assigned the task of riding the motorbike to facilitate the suspect’s transfer.
According to eyewitnesses, the rape suspect was resisting being taken to Sanniquellie, and attempted to escape from the speeding motorbike which ultimately led to the tragic accident near Loyee Creek on the main road between Tappita and Saclepea.
The rape suspect had originally come from Rivercess but committed the crime in Gbi-Doru, Nimba County. The case was initially transferred to River Cess County before being moved back to Nimba County. However, before reaching their destination, the fatal incident occurred.
This unfortunate event highlights challenges law enforcement officers face in rural Liberia. In almost all of the counties, the circuit are located in the counties’ capitals, while magisterial courts are spread across the counties- in cities, towns and districts.
In Nimba, cases that are beyond the magisterial courts are transferred to Sanniquellie, the county capital. Police and sheriffs encountered challenges in transferring these cases due to lack of mobile: vehicles or motorbikes. In most instances, victims and their relatives are compelled to pay the transportation fare for the suspects and sometime to law enforcer. Often, these journeys are done under risky conditions to minimize cost, as it was in this case where four people cramped on the motorbikes.
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