The premises of the opposition Congress for democratic change (CDC) was a scene of chaos after supporters thwarted a drug raid exercise organized by the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) behind the party’s headquarters.
The incident occurred during the morning hours on August 22, 2024, when the LDEA along with some riot Police went to dislodge a renowned ghetto behind the CDC’s national headquarters following a tip-off.
Defeated Montserrado County District Representative Moses Gray while on the premises in an attempt to claim partisans pronounced 24-hour ultimatum to the police to leave the front of the CDC headquarters premises.
Gray, who did not say what their next course of action would be earlier but it was an order that if the government does not recall the police, they would barricade all major entry points of the capitol.
Gray motivated his partisans saying, “We met with the police and had conversation and so, we are giving them 24-hour to leave from around our headquarters and I am quite sure they will do it because I believe they should be professional. I am not going to state our next course of action because the police will leave the CDC premises within the next 24-hour and I can assure you that we, CDcians, are ready and prepared to die with our blood and sweat for our rights.”
In recent weeks, the LDEA had been raiding drug chattels and ghettoes along the Paynesville towards the Tubman Boulevard and apparently that was one of the Agency’s swift move but were greeted by unexpected resistance from CDC supporters who prevented them from carrying out their operation on alarm of being attacked overnight.
The standoff which then centered on officers of the LNP and CDCians lasted for half of the day, with tensions running high and both sides refusing to back down, thus witnessing the throwing of stones and the releasing of tears gas among others.
The dramatic incident also witnessed the damage of several items coupled with the inflicting of wounds on some of the protestors and other citizens that were commuting the Tubman Boulevard from the Congo Town route.
According to some eyewitnesses, the party’s premises were allegedly attacked by armed policemen the night before the incident while those protesting in return, moved in to protect the headquarters and prevent the police from allegedly having access to the compound.
While other protestors disclosed that they were greeted by officers of Liberia Drug enforcement Agency at about 4:00 AM on account that the security had gone to raid a placed suspected to be a hideout for drug dealers.
They alleged that during the process of the search, the state security fired live bullets targeted at some of those occupying the party’s yard and reportedly got them severely wounded.
“And that is what led to our action to resist them. Again, we were attacked by the state security in the night. They said we had drugs but they did not find it and started shooting at peaceful citizens and we were left with no option but to resist them,” they added.
DC through its political leader and former President, George Weah, also accused the government for meting violence as well as defended the actions of his supporters, claiming that the raid was a calculated attempt from the police to cause chaos.
He also expressed shock and dismay over what he termed as the ‘police decision’ to open fire on innocent civilians near his party’s headquarters and in the surrounding areas without any prior notice.
Speaking to Front-page moment after the tension, Weah condemned the actions of the police, describing them as a threat to peace and a question mark over the Unity Party-led administration’s ability to govern effectively.
He wondered, “The UP administration claims they know how to govern, but they are not exhibiting any tolerance since they took over the country. Why open fire on innocent civilians as early as 2am?”
“With this, it is clear that they started attacking peaceful CDcians, and this is not good governance. We are a nation of rule and law. This needs to stop. We demand answers from the government,” Weah added.
However, the government through the Ministry of Information condemned the action, describing the violence as a ‘calculated attempt’ by opposition forces to destabilize Liberia.
Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah on the contrary accused certain groups seeking to undermine the country’s peace, create instability, and derail its economic progress.
“We have observed what appears to be a deliberate effort by some of our colleagues on the other side to engage in activities that threaten the peace of our country, create instability, and undermine our economic prosperity.
These actions, reminiscent of the past, seem aimed at holding our citizens hostage as they try to go about their normal lives but we as a government will not tolerate any form or acts of violence in this context,” Piah noted.
While withholding details information about the incident due to the ongoing nature of the operation, the MiCAT boss revealed that three police officers were wounded and are currently undergoing treatment.
He revealed, “A bus belonging to the General Services Agency (GSA) was also attacked and damaged while transporting employees to work, leaving three employees injured.”
“Another bus, belonging to the Liberia Telecommunication Corporation, was also attacked, with the driver wounded and the vehicle destroyed by a group of individuals who believed they can hold the rest of the country hostage,” he added.
Piah further criticized the action of individuals associated with the political party that kept the country in hostage; accusing them of attacking police officers, blocking roads, and setting tyres on fire, thereby creating chaos near a gas station.
He asserted, “The actions of these individuals, emerging from the compound of a political party, suggest a return to the chaos and anarchy that plagued Liberia during their tenure in power and we are aware of their tactics.”
He, therefore, called on the CDC leaders and former president Weah to take responsibility for the actions of the partisans, as well as also criticized lawmakers who defended the actions, accusing them of promoting lawlessness.
The MICAT boss however disclosed that the National Security Council is meeting to address the growing threats to the country’s stability, and cautioned, “If you think what you are doing is a playful thing, you’re mistaken because we will act decisively.”
He then commended the police for their restraint for facing ‘attacks from individuals using their party’s compound as a shield to throw stones and wound innocent citizens, including journalists.’
