-As Foya chaos sends discord
By Jerromie S. Walters
“Of course we are militants, people need to be afraid but however- we are not here to offend nobody, we are not here to destroy but whosoever that challenges to offend us, we will be prepared to respond to them”- Nua Tamba Morris- Chairperson of the Eight-hundred Militants in Foya, Lofa County narrated, prior to the merciless killing of a man believed to have been a supporter of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), on Friday, September 29, 2023. Ut us being speculated that about two persons didn’t survive (died) the incident.
The euphoria of Foya District, Lofa County displayed a scene of chaos, devastation, and a palpable sense of despair, following the deliberate perpetrated murder of a man believed to have been a supporter of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), by individuals who are said to be supporters of the opposition Unity Party (UP).
As established so far, some of the perpetrators of the recent murder/violence in Foya are individuals who were also dressed up in dominant red, similar to the Unity Party (UP) Eight-hundred Militant. Few other individuals that were seen in the act literally never had dominant red, but are also believed to be supporters of the Unity Party (UP).
Ahead of the incident, Nua Tamba Morris- Chairperson of the Eight-hundred Militants in Foya, Lofa County attributed the group’s political affiliation to the opposition Unity Party (UP), which he said was established with a paramount goal to protect their party.
“Of course we are militants, people needs to be afraid but however- we are not here to offend nobody, we are not here to destroy but whosoever that challenges to offend us, we will be prepared to respond to them.”
He continued, “We just found this group, it is to protect our parents and also protect the party. It should not doubt you, you want to tell the people that we are happy, especially we have received our people from America and other places so we are happy and we are jubilating to let the people know that Lofa County belongs to Unity Party.”
However, a vivid description of the scene showed how the victim earlier struggled to escape from the sight of the Unity Party’s supporters, but said quest didn’t yield fruit, as he was heavily surrendered, and brutally tortured till he went unconscious and later reportedly died.
The few minutes of the victim’s agony left visceral emotions and the harrowing aftermath, considering that even after he became helpless, he was made to suffer the consequences of falling in their hands, as the various individuals who are believed to be supporters of the Unity Party (UP) unmercifully brutalized him to their satisfaction.
Moreover, scores of other individuals on the scene were only heard saying, “He’s s CDC supporter, your just tie him, he will died, as they comfortably watched him being brutalized.
At a news conference on Friday, September 29, 2023, the ruling CDC condemned the brutal killings of its supporters in Foya, and called for the arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators. After what they termed as an in-depth investigation into this sad tragedy, “the CDC has established that hundreds of supporters of the Unity Party Standard-bearer orchestrated and carried out a deliberate attack on the premises of the Coalition for Democratic Change’s District-I Representative- Candidate Thomas P. Fallah, extensively vandalizing properties,
looting market stalls, killing three innocent citizens in cold blood, and leaving five persons confirmed to have sustained wounds of varying degrees.”
The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) believes that the sought intervention of the international developnent partners
is essential. “This sustained gush of fury, violence & vitriol from menbers of the
Unity Party, which was recently amplificd by its flag-bearer when he threatened to ‘End Liberia.., cannot be taken lightly. As the CDC and the Liberian people mourn the gruesome murder of three innocent citizens, we call for the immediate arrest and
prosecution of all perpetrators of this deliberate act of mayhem.”
However, the Unity Party campaign spokesman, Mo Ali, disclosed that the incident was prompted by supporters of Rep. Fallah who began throwing stones at members of the Unity Party from his compound.
Like Mo Ali, the Secretary General of the UP blames the CDC for the incident, and further alleged that the situation became more complicated after a Liberia Immigration Service officers who he said left Rep. Thomas Fallah’s compound and suddenly fired live bullets among the aggrieved citizens.
Following the incident, the Joint Security late Friday , September 29, 2023, disclosed that it is to shortly dispatch its Special Investigation Team on Election Violence for the 2023 General and Presidential Elections to investigate clashes in Foya, Lofa County, which reportedly occurred between individuals believed to be supporters of the Coalition for Democratic Change and the Unity Party.
The LNP noted that the team is mandated by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General to fast-track the investigation and report its findings the soonest.
The Joint Security Says its Media Relations Team will, on today, September 30, 2023, provide an initial update on the incident in Foya, Lofa County.
Undoubtedly, there are countless of effects of disturbing situations like the recent one, as politics in Liberia has been devastating, leaving a lasting impact on the country and its people. Liberia has a long history of political turmoil and violence, with bloody conflicts having occurred throughout its recent history.
However, political pundits believe the act contradicts the beauty of civil politics, and it warrants speedy investigation. This is because they say the country has already had troubling days and undergone a process of reconciliation and peace-building.
At the crucial point of the country’s existence, they have admonished all Liberians to recall about the effects of bloody politics in Liberia and have been far-reaching and devastating. The loss of human life, economic decline, psychological trauma, and regional instability are just some of the consequences that the country has had to endure. While progress has been made in addressing these effects, there is still much work to be done to ensure lasting peace and stability in Liberia.
