Liberia: Armed Robbers Strike in Point 4
January 26, 2008

Two families yesterday fell victim to the venom of marauding armed men on the Bushrod Island, particularly Point Four.

About 15 armed men stormed the home of journalist Sylvester Browne and made away with almost everything he has managed to secure over the past years, including DVDs, recorders, mobile phones and many other items. "They did not come with car, so they took portable items," he said in a mobile phone conversation.

In a very dwindling tone, he said it was through the grace of God that the men did not harm them.

Browne lives along the main road in Duala, close to the Muslim Mosque adjacent the Parker Paint Complex. Sharing his nightmare in a telephone conversation, he told the writer that the men burst the front door with ease, and even went as far as bursting doors of the four rooms and collected what was in their reach.

The men met no resistance, he said, and that they did not harm any body. Observers say, it might have been that occupants did not put up resistance to men, thereby watering down their aggression.

The latest strike in the community has created fear in residents, most of whom enjoyed relative calm over the past months, especially the yuletide season.

At the same time, another group of armed men also stormed a residence adjacent the Feed My People Children Hope School in Point Four and made away with almost every belonging therein.

This is not the first time armed men have attacked the area, the first being in October of last year when a resident of the community also suffered similar nightmare.

There is an iron door before the main door, but that was the first thing the men removed out of their way. From there, the main door (wood) before entering.

Before then, they encountered the security officer (watchman) on duty, but he did nothing to stop the force of the men said to be armed to the teeth. According to reports gathered, the robbers had no resistance even inside the house, and so they took time collecting what was in their reach.

The house in question is situated on the main road, few blocks away from the residence of District #12 Representative, Edward Forh. Forh himself could have done nothing because he does not have any security (gun totting officers) assigned with him to come to the aid of residents, such as the ones that were attacked yesterday.

Upon noticing that the men had succeeded in penetrating the two doors, according to information in possession of this paper, the owner of the house climbed into the ceiling.

There he remained until the robbers left his home, taking with them everything they could. Unfortunately, a resident whose shop is opposite the house that was attacked also fell prey to the aggression of the robbers.

This paper has learnt that upon hearing the screening of the watchman, he took his cutlass and proceeded to the house to provide assistance. But the robbers took the cutlass from him and chopped him on his hand.

Since entering the New Year, not much is heard of the activities of armed robbers as it was in time past. And this led to many suggesting that the security was closing in on them (armed robbers) and that Liberia was on the verge of gaining sanity.

But events of Wednesday morning in the Point Four community on the Bushrod Island proved otherwise, and sent fear in the residents.

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