When former President Charles Taylor accepted to relinquish power and settle in Nigeria in order to end the carnage that was raging in Monrovia, every Liberian and those in the international community hailed the move. They deciphered the relocation option as a guarantee to end the bloody confrontations amongst the warring factions.

But with recent developments, especially bordering on the request of the UP-led government for the Federal Government of Nigeria to extradite Taylor to the Special Court in Freetown, followed by swift acceptance of the request, loyalists of the exiled former Liberian President have been agitating against his going to Freetown to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Now there are unconfirmed but eerie revelations from the loyalist meeting selected elements may resorting to terrorizing the population in order to prevent Taylor onward tradition to Sierra Leone once he sets foot on Liberian soil.

• United Nations Troops

The Analyst Staff Writer has been looking at the phenomenal developments that appear to be an imminent danger.

Individuals claiming to be insiders of the series of recent meetings of Taylor loyalists say they have resolved to use terrorist tactics to prevent Taylor’s extradition to Sierra Leone.

The primary targets for elimination of the plan reportedly hatched by top loyalists of Mr. Taylor, according to the insiders, are staunch human rights activists and other individuals that are believed to have played roles “pivotal to the resolution by President Obasanjo to release Taylor to the Liberian government.”

It is not known why the loyalists would want to get at these activists, but the reports indicate that the plan is a diversionary scheme intended to divert the attentions of the government and the international community from the Taylor issue.

“By targeting these individuals and throwing grenades in market or crowded places, they hope to compel policy makers at the Security Council, the government of Liberia, ECOWAS, AU, and the U.S. to change their minds and perhaps open up new dialogue,” claimed the spokesman of the insiders who walked into the offices of The Analyst yesterday.

According to our sources, there have been frequent meetings at the homes of some prominent loyalists of the former president in order to strategize on the alleged elimination scheme.

The latest of the series of meetings were reportedly held under the cover of darkness on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning of this week at the homes of close relatives of Taylor in the ELWA and Congo Town areas.

Several former ace fighters, some of whom are serving in the UP-led government were reportedly in attendance when the decision was reached to get rid of human rights activists and vocal pro-Taylor extradition advocates.

As part of the scheme, a crack unit of the so-called loyalists is assigned with the task of using unconventional military methods like the same elimination tactics being employed by insurgents in Iraq.

The unit that will be non-descript, according to the insiders who refused to be identified on ground that their lives would be jeopardized, is accordingly poised to use roadside bombing, sniper fire, and hauling grenades at moving targets including commercial vehicles to achieve its goal.

The loyalists have resorted to the scheme according to the report because they have realized that they cannot easily depose the UP-led government and would be using the scheme to register their annoyance against the activists who had launched a vociferous anti-Taylor campaign.

The reports also indicate that a close aide to former president Taylor (name withheld) who has been with him in Calabar, Nigeria is currently in town and is also the chief strategist facilitating the accomplishment of the elimination plan.

Observers fear that an elimination scheme that has reportedly been hatched by the so-called may also cover journalists and unsuspecting Liberians. When one human rights activist was contacted by this paper upon receipt of the information, he said that his organization had received similar information, but that he could not ascertain the authenticity of the information.

He however said that they were not taking anything for granted as they know the potential of the group concerned. “We know what happened in 1992 when NPFL terrorists murdered Larry Milton in a crowded pup in Mamba Point, hauled grenade at hapless students, workers, and market women who were waiting for vehicles at the Freeport of Monrovia, set a car-bomb at the Rivoli Cinema on Broad Street. We know them and this is why we are not taking report lightly and we are not expecting UNMIL and the security forces not to do so either.

Even the October 2004 communal fighting in Monrovia is a sufficient reminder,” said one human rights activist in a telephone chat with The Analyst yesterday.

According to him, giving the ingrained allegiance of these men to the former president, he has no reason to doubt, but wondered what would be the essence of the scheme at a time when Liberians are focusing on positive reforms.

But observers are questioning the reason for an elimination campaign now when the Taylor issue has international connections in which Liberia is a virtual pawn in an aura of power-play. “Not a Liberian, whether close to Taylor or not, should blame another Liberian for what has become of the Taylor issue,” observed one analyst in reaction to a question posed by our reporter.

It may be recalled that the Liberian government through the National Security Agency (NSA) recently summoned three Taylor loyalists for questioning in connection with an alleged plan to in cause chaos in the city if the government insisted on Taylor’s extradition.

The men were released upon the intervention of their lawyer who argued that it was illegal to hold his clients without charge. State security forces were however reported to have said that the men would be recalled if the need arises.

The Analyst was unable to contact state security officials and UNMIL yesterday for comment on the reported destabilization plan, but a source said there was no indication that any such plan was underway.

“They are on top alert and are prepared in conjunction with the peacekeepers to handle any disturbances,” said the source that preferred anonymity. Meanwhile, UNMIL Chief of Mission, Alan Doss told newsmen recently that UNMIL was ready to protect the Liberian people against hooligans and troublemakers.