Liberia: Police Nab 3 Armed Robbers in Ganta

The Ganta Detachment of the Liberia National Police (LNP) has arrested three men in connection to a broad-day armed robbery in the Glenluu Community, in Ganta, Nimba County. The ringleader of the gang, the police noted, is still at large.

The Crimes Services Division, Ganta Detail, noted that its officers arrested the armed gang members who, along with others in December 2022, used automatic guns in a broad-day attack on a money exchanger who was on his way home.

The attackers ran away with over US$5,000 and millions of Liberian dollars, the LNP disclosed.

The police told the Daily Observer that the victim of the robbery incident, Matthew Yeanay, was shot several times on his right leg, knee with an automatic 1.5mm pistol. The armed robbers made away with his bag, which contained a huge sum of money in both currencies.

“We have been able to arrest three men in connection to the robbery, but the main gunman is still at large,” the police said.

Those arrested have been charged with multiple counts, including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, aggravated assault, criminal facilitation, and theft of property, and then forwarded to Sanniquellie Central Prison, awaiting court trial.

The victim was quoted as saying that he contacted a motorcyclist who usually takes him home but, while on their way, the motorcyclist suddenly stopped at Tokay Hill, around former Chief Justice Francis Korkpor's compound, when the gunmen immediately rushed on him, demanding his cash bag.

“While tussling over the bag and crying for help, the motorcyclist made no effort to help the money exchanger until the armed gang took away his bag and fled,” the police quoted the victim as saying.

The wave of this broad day attack, which occurred close to the Christmas and New Year holidays, brought shock and fear among the residents, especially those in the community where the incident occurred.

In a related development, the wave of criminal activities, involving mysterious deaths are said to be on the rise across Nimba — a situation that is creating panic among the citizens in the county. A man's corpse was found hanging and almost decomposed recently in Ganta, while in Bahn, citizens ransacked the police station over a series of mysterious deaths that occurred in the city of Bahn and its environs in November and December 2022, respectively.

Some of the citizens have attributed these deaths to ritualistic killers or "heart men's" activities. They therefore want the government to intervene and ensure that those involved in the gruesome killing are brought to book.