BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa – Residents of Grand Bassa’s first district have raised alarm about increased incidents of armed robberies in the Lloydsville Township.

There have been several cases of armed robberies reported in recent times that have residents fearing for their safety.

Lloydsville Township commissioner Matthew Paye told The Bush Chicken that the robberies are leading many residents to move away. He said on June 25, armed robbers absconded with L$500,000 (US$3,247) and US$1,000 in addition to phones and personal belongings. Paye said the robbers had broken down the victim’s door and attacked him. Community members came to his rescue, but they were overwhelmed by the armed robbers, who shot at residents. Paye said no arrests were made in that case.

On July 6, the township commissioner said another resident was robbed in Vahn Town, a community on the outskirts of Lloydsville.

In another recent incident, an armed robbery victim, Sam Gweh, said about 15 men surrounded his home at 1:00 a.m., shooting and calling him to open his door.

Gweh said he refused to open the door, which made the armed robbers angry.

He narrated, “When they came, they said, ‘Open the door or else we will burn you and your family in this house – in fact, bring all the money outside.’ But I told them no, so they started shooting all around the house and they said, ‘We coming to burn the house because you refused to open the door’ and they made up the fire on the back porch of my house, but they fought by all means but to no avail.”

“We are dying in the district, especially in the township of Lloydsville,” the commissioner said. “People want use their arms to disrupt the peaceful people in this place, so we are calling the national government, through LNP [the Liberia National Police] and all other security apparatus to come to our rescue.”

Paye said he does not know the cause of the increase in armed robbery in the district, but he wants the government to intervene by introducing strong security measures.

The Bush Chicken also contacted the Grand Bassa superintendent, Janjay Baikpeh, who confirmed that there have been no arrests made so far, but said police assigned in the district are still searching and the report will soon be made.

The superintendent agreed that the district needs more and constant police patrol for the safety of the people. He noted that some areas in the district are not easily accessible and community members there also have to help the police by sharing information.

Baikpeh promised to highlight these issues in an upcoming security meeting in Grand Bassa.

Featured photo courtesy of Lisa Larson