The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) on Monday, April 1, 2024, dispatched a second batch of delegation to Chio Town in Rivercess County.
The team’s arrival in the county came immediately a day after the drawdown of the first team, which was dispatched by the AFL consisting of a platoon size with a task of search and rescue operations.
Monday’s visit by the Army to the county witnessed a cash donation of L$200,000 and 20 bags of 25kg rice to the immediate families of the mudslide victims.
Making the presentation on behalf of the Chief of Staff of the AFL, Brig. Gen. Davidson Forleh, the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Col. Joseph Gayfloy, described the mudslide incident as saddening, and that the donation was the Chief of Staff and the men and women of the Army’s way of sympathizing with the people of Chio Town in Rivercess.
According to Gayfloy, the AFL takes seriously its civil-military responsibilities with the citizens of Liberia, and stands ready to always be supportive to the citizenry during national disasters, and whenever the need arises.
He then lauded the inhabitants of the town for being receptive to the personnel dispatched earlier, while also seizing the moment to caution the residents to avoid illicit mining at the site of the incident, describing it as a death trap.
Receiving the donation from the AFL, two local government officials speaking separately, Paramount Chief John Sowee and Unification Town Chief George Nawaye, expressed gratitude to the country’s military for identifying with them in their period of bereavement.
The two local leaders assured that the donation will meet its target audience as they prayed the AFL’s leadership to keep the Army as a civilian military and a Force for Good.
On March 26, Liberians woke up to the news that 10 residents of Chio Town had died and others currently on critical list in a mudslide, after they were reportedly engaging in illicit mining at a mining site operated by Devaco Mining Company.
LibFirst TV’s investigation uncovered that the depth of the mining pit is believed to be 15ft deep and 30ft long.
Chio Town has two mining companies, Devaco Mining Company and Tee Spoon Mining Company, reportedly licensed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
But the locals have frowned on Devaco by alleging that, contrary to a 6-month assessment certificate given by the Government of Liberia, Devaco has mined in the area since June 10, 2021, and has failed to construct any health facility, school, or road for the locals.
These claims, however, remain unsubstantiated by our platform, as there is no trace of any head of Devaco Mining Company up to press time.
Meanwhile, the organization urged the Government of Liberia to allocate adequate resources for the functioning of County Service Centers and County Councils.
