By: Sam K Zinnah
What appeared to be a well planned looting extravaganza in Kongba District in Gbarpolu County has back fired in Monrovia. On Friday April 27, 2012, a group of marketers and victims ran to Monrovia from the diamond rich and mining town of Kumgbor to blow alarm on Police Support Unit (PSU) Officer Theophilus Dunnor who claimed he was sent to Kongba District by Justice Minister Christiana Tah to effect arrest of people believed to be involved in illicit mining and hunting in the District.
According to eye witnesses and victims report, PSU Officer Theophilus Dunnor and his team of looters arrived in Timber Village on April 26, 2012 and placed several residents under gun point while they randomly search and loot houses in the Town. One of the victims narrated that Officer Dunnor displayed a letter he claimed was given to him by Justice Minister Christiana Tah to carry on a mission in Kongbar District in Gbarpolu County.
A well detailed letter from the office of Gbarpolu County Senior Senator J. S. B. Theodore Momo addresses to Justice Minister Christiana Tah and CC to Acting Police Director Chris Massaquoi surfaced at the Capitol Building ahead of Acting Police Director Chris Massaquoi’s confirmation.
Preliminary investigation into the alleged brutality by PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor shows that Officer Dunnor walked away from the police investigation or intimidation room in grand style while his victims were charged with bunch of bogus charges including “criminal facilitation”. The investigation which later turned into intimidation was led by C/Supt. Alfred T. Quire who was overtly seeing screaming and yelling at Officer Dunnor’s victims while Officer Dunnor was peacefully relaxing near the investigators.
Gbarpolu County Senator J.S.B. Theodore Momo writes Justice Minister Tah
Minister Christina Tah,
Our attention has been drawn to the action of PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor who claimed he was recently sent to Gbarpolu County by your office. According to eye witnesses and victims account, Officer Theophilus Dunnor and three other officers arrived in Kongba District on April 26, 2012 and began arresting, beating civilians and allegedly shooting between the legs of several residents of Kumgbor thus leaving many of our citizens in fear while many others are still believed to be seeking refuge in neighboring Villages.
According to one of the victims “Patrick W. Goikolo,” On April 26, 2012, PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor and his co-officers entered Timber Village in Kongbar District and allegedly put civilians under gun point. While under gun point, Officer Dunnor allegedly informed the Town residents that he was sent in the District by Justice Minister Christina Tah to effect arrest of people believed to be doing illegal mining and hunting in the District. After few hours, Officer Dunnor reportedly left Timber Village and proceeded to Amtel Camp where he reportedly entered and search houses while overtly holding pistol/fire arm.
On the same date (04/26/12), PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor reportedly preceded to another Town called Kumgbor. While In Kumgbor, PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor allegedly hand cuff few residents and discharged fire arm between the legs of several residents thus causing pandemonium in the town.
After spending the night in Kumgbor, Officer Dunnor went to Camp Alpha on April 27, 2012 and continued his looting, intimidation and assault on civilians. During his looting extravaganza, PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor went to Wango village where he and his team allegedly assaulted and brutalized tribal (Gio) Governor John Tuah leaving him (Tuah) severely injured. Tribal Governor Tuah was rushed to Monrovia and is currently admitted at the John F. Kennedy hospital where his condition has been described as “critical”.
After the above allegations against PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor, some residents/victims and marketers from Kongbar came to Monrovia and went to my office at the capitol building and notified me and other Gbarpolu County Law Makers about the incident. We immediately contacted the CID Department at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police to report the action of Officer Dunnor.
On Friday 04/27/2012, the CID Department chose Tuesday May 1, 2012 as the date to conduct investigation into the report. On Tuesday May 1, 2012, victims, and other Gbarpolu County citizens assembled in the conference room located in the CID Department on the second floor of the LNP headquarters to witness the preliminary investigation of alleged PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor and victims of his looting, intimidation, assault and brutality. The CID team was led by C/Supt Alfred T. Quire. The process was observed by Gbarpolu County public defender Cllr. James Lebah. Also in attendance was Chairman of the Gbarpolu County Association in the U.S. “Mr. Sam K Zinnah who is also a law enforcement officer in the U.S. State of Delaware.
According to the observers, the process turned into intimidation instead of investigation. C/supt. Alfred T. Quire was seeing screaming and yelling at victims with intent to intimidate the victims while the alleged perpetrator , PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor was seeing relaxing and laughing. During the so called investigation/intimidation process, PSU officer Theophilus Dunnor was overtly seeing whispering to the investigators. Prior to the investigation, one of the victims quoted Officer Dunnor as saying “this case is a dead case; you guys are wasting your time”.
Hon. Minister Tah, from all indications, your administration has proven and continued to proof to be ready for a system of transformation which has touched various aspects of the Liberian society, from consciousness to culture, values and community with the goal to rebuild our nation’s image so as to stimulate growth, and to provide opportunities for local and national involvement in productive activities in not only Monrovia but rural Liberia as well. We believe these things can be done by providing secure environment. In this respect, security, one of which matters most to the people of Gbarpolu County and Liberia as a whole has come under question as a result of Officer Theophilus Dunnor’s team and the CID Department of the Liberia National police. On Tuesday May 1, 2012 while three of Officer Dunnor’s victims were placed on criminal bench and charged with criminal facilitation, Officer Dunnor walked away in grant style and said to his victims “I told you this is a dead case”.
To clear doubt, I’m requesting a full investigation of the above allegations with the involvement of independent civil organizations and details of same be made available to the Gbarpolu County legislative caucus as soon as possible.
Senator J.S.B. Theodore Momo
Senior Senator, Gbarpolu County
Republic of Liberia
