Africa-Press – Liberia. The complete disregard for the rule of law by those entrusted to enforce the law has been the recipe for chaos of such magnitude here.
Personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) have clashed over supremacy here in Paynesville.
The violent clash, which saw the exchange of live bullets erupted on the SD- Cooper Road erupted when AFL personnel riding a motorbike violated Police “No-Go-Zone” on motorcyclists, using commercial bike.
The AFL officer, Sergeant Loyarty S. Garven, who was dressed in civilian attire at the time of his arrest, refused to identify himself and was manhandled by the police after he refused to adhere to the no-go zone restriction.
Violence ensued after dozens of AFL soldiers who had seen the video of their colleague being manhandled by traffic police officers circulating online responded.
The alleged assault on the AFL Soldier, which might have escalated the Wednesday dramatic chaos between the Police and the AFL officers, occurred on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, in Paynesville, when two Police officers unmercifully beat Sergeant Garven, forcing him into a pickup while aggressively treating him as a common criminal.
In response to the video, reports suggest that personnel of the AFL who were plying on the main street of Paynesville encountered officers of the Liberian National Police (LNP), who were enforcing a “No Go Zone” mandate on commercial motorcyclists.
Witnesses told the New Dawn that dozens of AFL Soldiers had responded to the Police action, preventing them from using commercial motorcycles to ply the main streets. The soldiers’ action was in retaliation to their colleague, Sergeant Garven, being brutalized by a Police officer just a day ago.
“The Army man them was passing on bike, using the main road, and then the Police officers, came to Stop them,” that how one of the AFL slapped the Police officer and they both started beating him, while chasing behind other Police, “Flomo Piah, a witness said.
According to report, the situation rapidly escalated, with reports of gunfire and aggressive confrontations from both sides.
Residents have been left in a state of fear and confusion as the two security forces entrusted with their protection turned against each other in a power struggle.
At least one officer of the Liberia National Police (LNP) identified as William K. David” has been injured and hospitalized at the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital in Sinkor, while other Police officers escaped the scene after being assaulted in the chaos.
Further reports said other injuries were said to have occurred as the army overpowered the LNP officers.
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