By Bill W. Cooper
The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has announced that it has initiated an active investigation into the violent altercation that involved its officers and members of the Liberia National Police (LNP).
The incident, which occurred late Wednesday, night, has since raised serious concerns about the relationship between the two security agencies and the implications for public safety in the capital.
The clash erupted around the S.D Cooper-ELWA Junction which witnessed an LNP officer identified as William K. David, alias ‘Safety 4’, publicly beaten by the AFL, in retaliation of one other colleague who was also beaten by police officers the day before the incident.
Officers from LNP sustained injuries, with the most severe injury of William from the LNP, prompting immediate medical attention at the ELWA Hospital in Paynesville.
In response to the incident, the AFL Chief of Staff, Major General Davidson F. Forleh, condemned what he termed as ‘the unauthorized attack and use of force by unidentified military personnel against a police officer’, thus calling for calm as they launch an investigation.
According to COS Forleh, the action by these ‘unidentified AFL personnel,’ acting on their own and not sanctioned by the High Command of the AFL, is concerning and requires swift intervention as was seen by the arrival of senior officers of the AFL and the LNP on the scene to de-escalate the situation to restore calm.
The AFL, in a release issued narrated, “The high command of the AFL calls for calm and assures the public that it is in active communication with national security authorities to ensure that this situation stays under control.”
The statement added, “An immediate investigation by the Provost Marshall and the Legal Affairs Unit of the AFL have been launched to establish the facts, as the AFL remains a Force for Good.”
Meanwhile, the High Command of the AFL and Authorities of the LNP yesterday, February 27, 2025, visited the JFK Hospital and ELWA Hospital to assess the conditions of the Police Officers who were badly beaten by the AFL Personnel on Wednesday evening.
This visit by the leadership of the two security agencies however followed a meeting at the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) concerning the unfortunate incident that occurred, which led to bodily injuries of security officers, thus instilling fear in several Liberians.
During the visit, Police Inspector General, Gregory Coleman and AFL Chief-of-Staff, Davidson F. Forleh asserted that their visit is intended to ensure that wounded officers receive the best care possible.
They further described the incident as unfortunate, and disclosed that they need to work together to prevent such occurrences in the future, calling for a total collaboration between both agencies to maintain peace and security in Liberia.
The Chief of Staff and the Police Inspector General further expressed their deepest concerns for the well-being of the injured police officers and conveyed their appreciation for the rapid response of medical staff. Also, the medical doctors at both hospitals disclosed that the injured personnel are currently receiving the necessary treatments and are responding positively to care, thus assuring them of doing their best in making sure that the victims recover in time.