YEKEPA, Nimba – Police in Nimba have charged and sent to court the 34-year-old Emmanuel Duokpor for allegedly murdering a 47-year-old man, George Nah, in Yekepa.

George Nah was found dead in a pool of blood on July 2, 2018 at his job site within the fence of the Free Pentecostal Church, where he served as a security guard for several years.

According to the Crime Services Department head of the Liberia National Police in Nimba, Chief Inspector James Karto, Duokpor will be sent to the Sanniquellie Magisterial Court shortly.

“The police has gathered sufficient evidence to prosecute Emmanuel Duokpor, who still denies the commission of the act,” he said.

Police said the victim had been accused by Duokpor of having a sexual affair with his wife.

“All other evidence and circumstances gathered by the police are all pointing at him that indeed, he was involved in the killing of this guy criminally and maliciously,” Karto said.

Karto said the police was also investigating a case of a missing employee of ArcelorMittal. Prince Nah Brown reportedly went missing after a heated argument with the mining company’s management as employees were protesting for better benefits.

Following the protest by some employees of the company, ArcelorMittal reportedly suspended Brown because he had breached the company’s policy.

“Prince Nah Brown and others went against the [ArcelorMittal’s] policy due to misconduct,” Karto said. “Since then, this guy disappeared suddenly.”

“Prior to the sudden disappearance of Brown, he was seen within Camp 4, not too far from his residential area at about 5:00 p.m. on August 4, 2018,” he added.

The Liberia National Police launched an investigation into Brown’s disappearance after a meeting with the company’s management at Mount Tokadeh, where the company is currently mining iron ore.

The police inspector said the third case currently being investigated involves a 26-year-old man, Della Duayen, who has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing the 38-year-old Samuel Kollie in a fist fight on August 1, 2018 in Kenpea, Tappita District.

Karto said Kollie bought a motorbike from the suspect, Della Duayen, and was still indebted to pay L$1,500 (US$9.80). When Duayen has gone to demand his balance money from Kollie, the confrontation later turned into a fistfight, which led to Kollie’s death after he was repeatedly beaten with a stick on his neck.

Besides the case of Kollie’s murder, Karto said Nimba police had also launched an investigation into the disappearance of Nelson Fallon, a rubber tapper in Yarwein Mensonnoh District.

Karto said Fallon had gone to tap rubber for locals in the area when he went missing on August 16, 2017 and has not been seen since. He said police would not rest until the criminals are brought to book.

As the second largest and second most populous county, Karto said police in Nimba face many constraints in doing their work, including limited logistical support and a shortage of manpower. He said these challenges impede police work in the county.

“We need manpower to enhance our day-to-day movement to ensure that our citizens are served and protected in accordance with our function,” he said, appealing to the central government to help police in the county access hard-to-reach areas like Yarwein Mensonnoh and Gbi & Doru.

Featured photo by Franklin Nehyalor