One day after the Liberian National Police (LNP) successfully rounded up several alleged armed robbers in the city of Monrovia and its surrounding, it has againnabbed about 10 suspected armed robbers along with its "so-called ring leader".

	• Col. Beatrice Sieh

Police Inspector General, Col. Beatrice Munah Sieh called a press conference recently and displayed the the youth alleged robbers .

She told journalists at the headquarters of the LNP that the so-called ring leader, Archie Zonndo, alias “Rocky-Dog” is one of those terrorizing residents of the Paynesville Community.

“Our records show that Archie Zondo has been involved in numerous armed robberies, arrested, charged and forwarded to court”, Col. Sieh said. She noted that Rocky-Dog orchestrated an armed robbery incident at the residence of one Bentoe Z. Teheounge in the ELWA community.

Others she said were with him include Alison Wowah, Samuel Toe, Samuel Kollie and one “Blessing Gaye”.

“On January 12, 2008 at 02001hrs, another female, madam Fahnbulleh, a resident of the S. D. Cooper Road Community in Paynesville was attacked by Archie Zondo with the following accomplices; Samuel Toe, Abu Kromah, Prince Tweh and Prince Kennedy and others who are at large”, the LNP boss said.

The IGP said suspect Zondo led a group of his men identified as Samuel Toe and Charles Willie on February 1, 2008 attacked Mr. Joseph Henries and family at their Police Academy residence in the Paynesville community.

She disclosed that Archie Zondo and his team of gangsters were arrested, charged and forwarded to  but were later found in the streets of Monrovia, stressing further that  said situation is a vicious circle that engulfed the Liberian society.

“These suspects were arrested, charged and forwarded to court only to be found in the streets of Monrovia, thereby sustaining our earlier statement that the armed robbery situation is a vicious circle”, she noted.

At the same time, the LNP have arrested a man identified as Junior Sonkarlay for allegedly impersonating as a Police officer in the Paynesville Community.

Police authority said Sonkarlay is among others who are in habit of harassing, molesting and carrying out acts inimical to the police scope of operations, thereby reducing the police to public ridicule.

“We wish to use this occasion to inform the public that the administration of the Liberia National Police would appreciate were crimes committed are reported”, the Police boss said.

The constant arrest of armed robbers comes in the wake of warning issued by the Minister of Justice who threatened to eradicate armed robbery in a month time.

Also recently, President Johnson-Sirleaf in her address to the nation urged the Minister of Justice and the United Nations Mission in Liberia to become proactive to dealing with the issue of armed robbery.

Besides, citizens themselves are not leaving any stones unturned in ensuring that they do not become absolute subjects of armed robberies. In almost all of the communities are vigilante groups trying to help the police in the wake of the national security quandary.

The Police are calling on the Liberian people, especially those in the Monrovia areas to call the following numbers in their locations.

Police Arrest Armed Rapists
By George J.Borteh

The Liberia National Police (LNP) yesterday displayed several persons believed to be armed robbers at its headquarters on Capitol Hill in Monrovia.

Addressing reporters at her offices yesterday, Inspector General of the LNP, Col. Beatrice M. Sieh said the alleged robbers, now rapists, were arrested as a result of an operation code-named “Operation Thunder Storm”.

She said they were apprehended on April 14, 2008 at the residence of one Matthew W. Gongar at which time suspect Lincoln Flammah was identified by several witnesses to include the victim.

“On April 18, 2008 at 021hrs, the homes of some residents on the Old Road were attacked by unknown armed men. During robbery, a female was raped”, Col. Sieh said. She said the LNP have so far arrested five persons believed to be armed robbers.

They are Jack Wleh, Junior Kollie, Archie Sackor, Marcus Ben and Solomon Harris. The suspects are presently in detention undergoing investigation, Col. Sieh said. The IGP provided several instances and locations of armed robbers’ attacks. 

A woman identified as Arine Solo and her husband together with their son were sustained serious body wounds when armed robbers wasted Acid Water on Perry Street in Monrovia. The incident occurred on April 17, 2008.

According to her, two alleged armed robbers were arrested on April 22, 2008 after breaking into the homes of Abdulai Dorley and Madam Saybah Kollie both of Zayzay Community and Parker Paint respectively.

Those arrested according to Police Inspector General are Emmanuel Dolo and Titus Dumoh. She said they are being investigated at the LNP headquarters.

Meanwhile, two of the Perry Street and Old road communities raped victims want justice to prevail as they prepared to live with what happened to them. They were raped by some of the armed robbers being detained by the police.

The victims who preferred not to be named disclosed that they were raped after the ‘rapists took away valuable items.

 “He told me to lie down and sexually abused me in the living room of my house while my fiancé was coping with cutlass wounds he sustained on the other side of the house”, one of the victims said.