BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa – Police in Grand Bassa have arrested the alleged ringleader of a group of armed robbers who residents say have been responsible for a spate of recent crimes in the county.
Police disclosed that Jacob Teah, 30, was arrested at the Owensgrove police checkpoint on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at about 7:00 p.m. by a joint security team that transferred him to Buchanan for investigation. Teah was arrested with a single barrel pistol and three rounds while riding on a motorcycle he had earlier stolen.
The police were acting on intelligence they received that a group of armed robbers was heading to Grand Bassa. According to Peter M. Wogbeh, the head of the Crimes Services Division, residents of Joe Gray Town had arrested a motorcyclist who had brought Teah and another colleague into their town after Teah committed armed robbery.
The town residents said Teah had shot one of the residents, Solomon Kongbagar, and stole his motorcycle. Wogbeh said the arrested motorcyclist then confessed to bringing Teah to the town. Police then increased their patrol along the route.
Soon after, Wogbeh said police received a tip from a community member that Teah was on his way to Monrovia, prompting an alert to be sent out to all checkpoints along the highway.
Upon Teah’s arrest, the police said the family of Kongbagar, who was shot and had his motorcycle stolen, verified that the motorcycle found with Teah belonged to Kongbagar.
Police have since charged Teah with armed robbery and other crimes. On Monday, August 6, he was sent to court.
Residents of Grand Bassa’s first district have recently been complaining of increased incidents of armed robberies. On June 25, armed robbers fled with L$500,000 (US$3,247) and US$1,000 in addition to phones and other personal belongings of a victim in Lloydsville Township. On July 6, another resident was robbed in Vahn Town, a community on the outskirts of Lloydsville.
Residents now hope that the arrest of the alleged ringleader of the armed robbers will bring relief to the area.
The commissioner of Lloydsville Township, Matthew Paye, has been calling on the government to intervene by introducing strong security measures.
Featured photo by Sampson David
