Who’s Responsible?

       

By Joseph Tumbey 

Rival clashes in Foya,  Lofa County  have reportedly left at least two  persons dead with several other  injured, but   both parties shift blame. 

On Friday September 29, Program marking the home coming of Foya-United States citizens to support  Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s Campaign turned chaotic  as the supporters from the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), and the mainstream opposition Unity Partisans   clashed terribly,  resulting in the destruction of lives and properties. 

However,  the Montserrado  district #5 lawmaker,  Thomas P. Fallah who is currently a candidate of Lofa district # 1 has accused the UP supporters of killing CDCians.

Appearing on local radio,  “Diompelor”  right after the incident in Foya,  Rep. Fallah accused  the  Unity Partisans of invading  his residence, killed his supporters and injured more.

“Hundreds of them got wounded, more got killed,  but there are three persons confirmed dead  why many are taken to the nearby health care centers,”  Fallah disclosed. 

Meanwhile,  an unconfirmed report     from Lofa, district #1  lawmaker , F. Sakila Nyumalin is explaining that a group of cdcians led by Miss Angeline Sia Bundoo, a first cousin of Finda Bundoo, the Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol, emerged from the residential Compound of Representative Candidate Thomas Fallah, which happens to be on the Foya – Mendicorma Highway, approximately one  kilometer away from Central Foya City, and began to throw stones at the parading crowd who were using the said highway from Shelloe Town to Foya City.

“An eyewitness account indicates that the commander of the Foya police detail came out of Thomas Fallah’s fence and instructed a police aid to open fire to dispel the crowd. Upon firing, an individual was allegedly killed and so the said police aid was allegedly chased, cut and subsequently moped to death by an angry crowd thereby making the death toll to two. About twenty-seven others were injured and are currently undergoing medical treatment at two different health facilities in Foya District. 

The situation was not brought under control until the LNP Commander of Lofa County arrived late in the evening with men from Voinjama. The Foya Police Detail Commander and all other armed and unarmed security officers gathered in Thomas Fallah’s residence providing security for Fallah and other cdcians within the said compound,” the reports disclosed. 

The report  stated that on Saturday, September 30, the LNP Commander of Lofa County requested him to escort to the Foya police station the Unity Party Coordinator, Augustine B Samuka and  their partisans, Njamilah saa Bornguoi and Peter T.O. James on account of being persons of interest which he did. 

It added that upon their  arrival at the police station, Commander Clement Ballah indicated to him that a team of investigators was due shortly to conduct an investigation on the entire saga but requested the gentlemen to write statements individually. 

“Upon completion he asked me to sign for them, carry them home and guarantee their return to the police station at 3pm the same day on grounds that he was doing everything to bring over to the station from Fallah’s Fence nine (9) other accused cdcians. 

Upon our return to the police station at 3pm we were informed by Commander Ballah that the three (4) Unity Party partisans named above were going to be taken to Voinjama for questioning. I inquired as to why those cdcians accused by the Unity Party’s leadership had not been brought under the LNP control but instead the complainants were taken away for investigation. 

“Not being satisfied with his response, I immediately  contacted Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue and his response was “Hon Nyumalin you cannot detate to the police as to how they should conduct that investigation” and he hung up the phone.

“The three Unity Party leaders are currently in a police cell in Voinjama, Lofa County.

 Meanwhile, none of the accused cdcians has been arrested or invited by the police,” the report concluded.