The Liberia National Police (LNP) has reacted to media reports that its officers were not deployed on time to provide security for electorates who turned out to vote in the Lofa County senatorial by-election on Tuesday, June 28, 2022.
The LNP’s reaction was contained in a press statement on Tuesday following reports in the NewDawn and K-News that the LNP vehicles carrying officers to Lofa had a breakdown along the way.
According to the police, the two media institutions pointed specifically to defective vehicles being used to transport the officers to Lofa, which broke down several times along the way, thereby leading to the officers not arriving on time in the county to provide security.
Police Spokesman, Moses Carter, also termed the report about officers not being fed on time and not given their allowances for the assignment as untrue.
“New Dawn and K-News Online reported that the police rented vehicles that were not registered and as well broke down along the highway to Lofa County. That information is untrue and is condemnable.
“We urge those media outlets to properly make inquiries to get the truth before going on with their publications,” Carter stated.
Carter however admitted to information that his officers had some challenges along the way due to road’s bad condition.
Despite the bad road challenges, Carter said that LNP officers reached Lofa safely and on time, and deployment began as early as 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 to all of the 115 polling precincts, while their DSA and feeding remained on course.
Carter warned that the LNP will take appropriate action against any institution that will fall short of authenticating information concerning it before publication, in line with the law, especially information that tends to damage the image of the police.
Meanwhile, Carter clarified that there has been only one incident of violence in Lofa since election activities started there, and involved supporters of Cllr. Jallah and Montserrado County’s district #10 Representative, Yekeh Kolubah, but said the police has swiftly responded to the matter.
On the report of police arresting a man believed to be an associate of Montserrado County’s district #5 Representative, Thomas Fallah, allegedly trooping in people from neighboring Sierra Leone, Carter said the police are aware of the situation and are investigating the matter.
“Until the proper investigation is concluded,” Carter said, “the police have not come up with any findings, on ground that the information is based on allegations.”