Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) in Grand Bassa County has arrested a 37-year-old man identified as Moses Swag for illegal possession of a lethal weapon.
Major Joseph Taggidine, the LDEA county commander, told LocalVoicesLiberia that suspect Swag was arrested on September 3 in the St. John River District, while en route from Bong County.
When the officers apprehended him, he refused to be investigated, claiming that he had the firearm to protect himself in the community, said Major Taggidine.
He has, however, been turned over to the Liberian National Police for further investigation.
“Moses was in that district threatening people with the arm and claiming that he had it for self-defense,” Taggidine said.
“It is criminal to have small arm without the approval of authorities in Liberia and we must report anyone committing such act.”
Major Taggidine LDEA called on people in the county to report strange people or activities including anyone illegally possessing firearms in their communities to the joint security or district leaders
“This upcoming election is very critical and we as citizens need to help the securities in hosting a peaceful election by reporting evildoers,” he said, adding that every citizen needs to help in maintaining the peace.
” Let me tell you, citizens, no security officer will disclose who give them information but you the citizens have to keep informing us so that we can maintain the peace “, Taggidine said.
Meanwhile, Alvin Garjay, a resident of Buchanan, said the government should take the blame for the illegal possession of firearms.
“How did this man get the arm,” Garjay asked. “This means that our country is not safe because anyone can just walk into this country with gun. If that man was going to do bad to anyone in this area then we were going to hold them responsible.”
Alpha Daffae Senkpeni is a multi-media journalist and fact checker with over 18 years’ experience. Senkpeni is the Director and Senior Editor of Local Voices Liberia (LVL) – a network that operates Liberia’s major independent fact checking desk. LVL has implemented several media development projects funded by USAID and the European Union. Since 2021, he has led the organization’s implementation of fact checking projects including fact checking workshops for journalists, media literacy programs, and community forums – all geared toward countering disinformation and expanding the culture of fact checking.
Senkpeni holds a law degree from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and a BSc in Mass Communications from the University of Liberia. He’s also an alumnus of the Radio Netherlands Training Center (RNTC) with a certificate in Digital Content to Counter Disinformation. He has also attended several fact checking trainings.
