By Moses M. Tokpah/MARGIBI
The head of a Community Watch Forum in Lango Town, George P. Johnson, has reported being severely beaten by officers of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) following a confrontation over a parcel of marijuana he seized from a suspected drug dealer.
The incident occurred on March 4, 2024, when Johnson received a tip-off about two suspicious individuals near Lango Lippaye High School.
Upon arriving at the scene, he confronted the suspects who claimed they were merely visiting someone.
Johnson then requested one suspect to lead him to their supposed contact and while following, he discovered another individual carrying a plastic bag.
Upon inspecting the bag, Johnson said he found a parcel of marijuana along with items including a meter from the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), a radio, and a flashlight.
He subsequently handcuffed the suspects using cuffs from a nearby security officer and took them to his Lango Town Community base.
While at his base, Johnson said nine LDEA officers arrived and demanded that he hand over the marijuana parcel.
Johnson narrated that he refused, insisting that he would turn over both the parcel and the suspects to the police instead.
This refusal led to a confrontation during which Johnson claims he was beaten with rattans by the officers, resulting to his phone getting missing.
After the altercation, Johnson said he took the marijuana and the other items to the police station, where an LDEA commander allegedly admitted that he had ordered the beating.
Johnson accused a female LDEA officer of facilitating an escape of one of the handcuffed suspects, who remains at large along with two others.
Johnson is currently undergoing self-sponsored medical treatment and has urged police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident or refer it to court.
He has also reported threats against him and another woman by some LDEA officers.
In response to these allegations, Alex Flomo, Commander of the LDEA in Margibi County, stated that his officers were conducting routine patrols when they encountered Johnson without proper identification as a community watch forum member.
Flomo claimed that Johnson insulted his officers and physically assaulted a junior officer, which prompted the officer to have hit his hand with the rattan twice.
He also denied claims by Johnson that his officers issued threats against him and another woman.
As this situation unfolds, community members are calling for accountability and transparency in handling such incidents involving law enforcement agencies.