Police in Nimba County have charged and sent to court sixteen individuals for their alleged involvement in the recent mob violence that led to the death of two suspected ritualistic killers.
The violence also left several others injured, including officers of the police and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
Crowd of angry citizens took to the streets on March 20 this year and attacked a taxi cab transporting seven men accused of being linked to ritualistic activities in a town called Bleevalay in District #7, Nimba County.
Their action led to the death of two of the seven men and injury of another and officers of the LNP and LDEA.
Following the incident, several persons were arrested and taken to Sanniquillie for interrogation to ascertain facts and circumstances surrounding the mob violence.
But speaking to the Liberia News Agency via telephone from Monrovia on Wednesday, Nimba County Crime Services Division Commander, Inspector James Karto, disclosed that following police preliminary investigation, 16 persons were charged and sent to the 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Sanniquillie, for prosecution.
According to Inspector Karto, the 16 individuals were charged with multiple crimes, including murder, criminal conspiracy and criminal mischief.
Inspector Karto indicated that there were over 80 persons arrested, but after thorough investigation, it was established that the 16 persons were liable for the mob violence that rocked Ganta on March 20.
“Initially, we arrested several persons, but following our investigation and screening, it was established that 16 out of the total number of people arrested were held liable for being at the center of the violence in Ganta,” Inspector Karto informed LINA.
It can be recalled that during the late evening hours of March 20, crowds of angry citizens attacked and killed two men who were being taken to Sanniquillie for investigation over their alleged involvement in ritualistic activities in Bleevalay Town, District #7, Nimba County.
Following the incident, authorities of the LNP dispatched armed police officers who arrested over 80 persons and took them to Sanniquillie for investigation.
This is the second major mob violence that has rocked Nimba’s commercial city of Ganta since 2015 with the previous one taking place in 2015 when angry protestors burned down several property belonging to a businessman accused of being linked to the gruesome murder of a motorcyclist in the area.
LINA
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