Police Charges 16 with Murder Following Recent Violence in Ganta

Ganta, Nimba County – The Liberia National Police (LNP) in Sanniquellie, Nimba County, has arrested and charged 16 persons with murder, criminal mischief, obstructing government operations, aggravated assault among others.

Report by Franklin Doloquee, Contributor

Those arrested and charged, according to Police Crime Services Division (CSD) County Commander James Karto, were seen in photos and video recordings when angry crowd descended and allegedly began mobbing seven men in the LPRC Community in Ganta.

Unfortunately, two of the men died on the spot, while one is under critical condition and is being treated in hospital in Ganta. Luckily for four, they were rescued in time by officers, who intervened.

The men had been accused of alleged involvement with ritualistic killing. They were being transported on a commercial taxi from Saclepea to Sanniquellie when the car they were in developed mechanical problems upon their arrival in Ganta. 

According to reports, while the car was being worked on, someone recognized the men and blew alarm. Angry crowd descended on and mobbed two to death. The crowd even wounded security officers, who had gone there to rescue them.

According to our Nimba County Contributor, the two dead men were Winston Gonseh, 38 and Festus Gaye, 36.

The angry crowd had accused Gonseh, Gaye and others, of being involved with ritualistic killing in Blevalay Town in District # 7.  

According to police sources, the men were being transported to Sanniquellie for their investigation to continue when the two met their untimely death.

Mr. Thomas Wright, a Ministry of Finance employee, who is assigned in Nimba County, told FrontPageAfrica, that the number of persons arrested were far less than the number of hooligans he had seen taking part in the crime. 

According to Wright, who claimed that he witnessed the riot as it unfolded, the number of persons, who allegedly took part, was around 40 and more. 

Wright wants more arrests to be made; especially motorcyclists, whom he accused of the being the main master-minders in the March 19, 2019 incident.

Our Nimba County Contributor had heard that the number of persons arrested far exceeded 16 but parents came and bribed the police and their sons were let go. But others, who couldn’t afford to give something, were held and are the ones, who have been charged.

However, when our Contributor put the allegation to the police in Ganta, they out rightly denied it.