Days after the second discovery and seizure of 15 military-grade of arms and assorted ammunition were made in Monrovia, the Liberia National Police have reassured Liberians of safe and peaceful elections scheduled for October of this year.
On Thursday, January 5, 2023, the Liberia National Police and the joint security team seized high-grade Military Arms and Ammunition, which was believed to have been shipped by an American-Liberian national named Benjamin Boyd Baker.
According to the Inspector General of Police Patrick Sudue, the consignment of Arms and Ammunition was discovered and seized at the Freeport of Monrovia while additional Arms and Ammunition were also discovered and confiscated by the Liberia National Police on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the home of suspect Benjamin Boyd Baker in Brewerville City outside Monrovia.
The Police Chief revealed that the conserved boxes were loaded with high military-grade Automatic assault rifles, Sniper Guns with a range of 1000mm equipped with Scope and laser beams as well as an American-made M16, and AKM-30mm, Revolver Rifles, ammunition, and weapon cleaning and Maintenance Lubricants amongst others, were seized by Liberia’s joint security team.
Inspector General Sudue mentioned that if one were to consider the classification of Arms and Ammunition brought into Liberia, it would not take an Army to cause havoc or destabilize the Country. Noting that it only requires, trained men to carry out such an evil act and this is the reason, why the Police are investigating to ascertain, the motive of Benjamin Boyd Baker bringing such high-grade weapons to the Country.
But speaking in an exclusive interview with Kukatonon News on Monday, January 9th at his Capitol By-Pass Office, the Police boss emphasized that the safety of everyone within the territorial confines of Liberia is paramount and the joint Security of Liberia, will do everything possible to ensure peaceful and democratic elections this year.
“We want to reassure all Liberian citizens and all our foreigners within the borders of the Republic of Liberia that the Liberian national police and the joint security teams are on top of their game and we are doing everything to ensure that we guard the peace of this country.” We assured the Liberian people, foreign nationals, and our counterparts that we will maintain the peace of this country, we will ensure that this coming general and the presidential election is conducted in a very, very peaceful manner” Inspector General Sudue stressed.
At the same time, Inspector Sudue revealed the Police will, however, play a neutral role in the elections. He also noted that the LNP will have MOUs signed with the Media and Civil Society organizations to collaborate and work together as evidence that the police works during the elections are transparent.
“We are going to sign MOUs with the Press Union of Liberia, Civil Society organizations to collaborate and work together to ensure that the police working during the election be transparent. And every process along the way, the press and civil society will be involved by the Police to ensure our neutrality to the entire world. We are not going to hide anything and we are not going to do anything that will spoil the peace of this country or rig the elections” he concluded.
Speaking further, Inspector Sudue disclosed all political parties and candidates in the elections are accorded equal security and at the same time carry on community policing to ensure that citizens are safe from problems.
We will also ensure that we work with all of the youth leaders, motorcycle and tricycle unions’ leaders, and local communities chairmen in all districts of the country to ensure that the elections period becomes very peaceful”
Inspector Sudue also maintained that although there are some logistic challenges, low manpower as well as capacity facing the LNP, however, the police is fully prepared to render services to the public throughout the elections to maintain the peace the country now enjoys.
