Monrovia – When Gregory Coleman was named Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, taking over from Col. Chris Massaquo, at his confirmation hearing he promised to in two weeks curtail armed robbery in Monrovia and its environs.
Report Henry Karmo – [email protected]
Inspector General Coleman’s first initiative was to get off the streets hijackers commonly referred to as zogos. He is being commended for his efforts to get criminals off the streets that have brought relief to Liberians who have had to look over their shoulders when using the streets to protect their pocket or shield their phones.
This effort though commended but seems not to be resonating at the level of the community.
In Paynesville women in their numbers—young and elderly—gathered at the Zone Five Police depot carrying anti armed robbers placards and calls for Police protection.
According to the women, they want the Police’s intervention by their presence in the community every night to curtail armed robbery activities in their community.
The Women from the GSA road Rock-Hill community with a population of over 30,000 complained of been constantly harassed by armed robbers.
Madam Viaba Flomo chair of the community in an interview with FrontPage Africa said, over the past weeks residents of the community had lived in fear of been robbed by robbers.
“When some of these robbers are arrested by the residents and brought to the Police, the Police release them without any notice to the residents and when these guys get back they become more aggressive. We want more collaboration with the Police,” Flomo said.
“Even though we have watch teams we do not have the authority to deal with these criminals. We want a depot we can provide whatever it is to do that.”
“We are here as women because we are more vulnerable our men are doing their part but we are the ones who are more victims when these bad guys come to our homes,” she lamented.
In response to the women request the head of the Zone Five Police station promised the women to be responsive to crimes, including armed robbery but cautioned the community residents to organize themselves a watch team that would work in collaboration with the Police to curtail rubbery.
He thanked the women for the peaceful manner they had conducted themselves.
Inspector General Coleman at his confirmation hearing told senators that plans were already underway to tackle the issue of armed robbery.
He also advised the Senate not to pass a provision in the new Police act before them that calls for the execution of armed robbers.
