Liberia: Security Breach at President’s Home? AFL Replaces EPS After ‘Mad Man Incident

Monrovia – President George Manneh Weah was reportedly incensed last Thursday when an unidentified man made his way past officers of the Executive Protective Services (EPS) into the President’s house in the ELWA Rehab community.

Bystanders who witnessed part of the incident told FrontPageAfrica at the weekend that the man had mysteriously made his way past EPS officers on duty. 

Multiple sources confirmed to FPA Monday that several of the officers guarding the president’s home were investigated and some have been reassigned. 

The intruder was involved in a scuffle with the EPS officers before he was finally apprehended and jailed.

Mr. Trokon Roberts, Director of the EPS when contacted partially confirmed the incident.  “Yes, a mad man forced his way through security barriers while he was been questioned.  He was later arrested and turned over to the police.”

Pressed as to whether the man made his way into the President’s bedroom and what is the current status of the EPS officers on duty, Mr. Roberts declined to comment further. However, FPA was informed late Monday that because of the incident, the EPS officers assigned at the President’s home have all been removed and replaced by soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) who have been placed on temporary guard duty pending probe of the incident.

The EPS is responsible for providing high-level protection for the president and some key officials. It replaced the Special Security Service (SSS), which was created and established under the Executive Law, Chapter 49 Section 12.56 in 1966.

It is unclear whether the decision to remove the EPS guards from the President’s home is a permanent move. But multiple sources have said that the President was unhappy about the breach of his home and how the EPS handled the situation.