GBARNGA, Bong County — Several residents of Bong County, particularly Gbarnga, and surrounding communities are calling on the Liberia National Police, Bong Detachment to reactivate nighttime restrictions on motorcyclists and the movement of unidentified individuals, citing concerns over alleged harassment, intimidation, and robbery during night hours.
The residents made the call during a radio call-in program, “Head-to-Head,” on Premium FM in Gbarnga, where they expressed concerns over what they described as the lack of enforcement of a nighttime restriction previously introduced by former Bong County Police Commander ACP Fasu Sheriff.
According to the callers, the reported decline in enforcement has contributed to renewed incidents of harassment and criminal activities in parts of the city.
One caller recounted a recent incident in the Jorkpenmue Community, where several individuals returning from a nighttime church service were allegedly harassed by a group of unidentified men who took away their valuables, including mobile phones and cash.
The caller said some of the alleged perpetrators escaped on motorbikes, while others fled through the community.
The residents are therefore urging the newly assigned Bong County Police Commander, ACP William Johnson, to consider reintroducing and enforcing the nighttime restriction to help curb alleged criminal activities and improve public safety.
They claimed that the measure was more effectively enforced during the tenure of former Commander Sheriff, resulting in a reduction in reported criminal and armed robbery incidents.
However, they said the restriction has experienced little or no enforcement since Sheriff’s reassignment to the Liberia National Police Detachment in Grand Bassa County, which they believe has contributed to renewed nighttime security concerns.
The residents have appealed to the police authorities to take urgent action to restore public confidence and ensure the safety of citizens during nighttime movements.
Our investigation has not independently verified whether the nighttime retraction imposed by former commander Sheriff has been stopped or still in effect, but it appears like no such measure is currently active in the county.
Note: the below image is not connected to any harassment scene in Gbarnga, but only meant to portray the reported action.
