Africa-Press – Liberia. When President Joseph Nyuma Boakai appointed the Director General of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Abraham Kromah, and his deputies, they were charged with the mandate to lead the government’s war on the abuse of illicit substances in the country. However, rather than fighting drugs, the heads of the LDEA are fighting each other — turning the LDEA’s headquarters into a battleground.
DG Kromah and his Deputy for Operations, Hassan Fadiga, were on Monday, June 3, 2024, involved in a fistfight with their loyal officers, also joining in the brawl.
The conflict extended to the loyal officers of the two powerful men, further escalating the situation.
Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman had to step in to end the fight between the two top officials. Kromah accused Fadiga of frequently being involved in acts of gross insubordination and often taking disagreements to social media for discussion.
As to what led to the altercation on Monday, Kromah accused Fadiga of brandishing a weapon during the altercation with him. “Fadiga was brandishing weapons, and I had to call the Director of police,” he said.
Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman had to intervene. This marks the second such occurrence of its kind. They were summoned for investigation by the Liberia National Police.
Disciplinary Inquiry launched
Cllr. Oswald Tweh, Justice Minister, was on Monday, June 3, among several high-ranking security officers, including IG Coleman, to launch an investigation into the LDEA’s leadership fracas.
The investigation at the headquarters of the Liberian National Police (LNP) is sanctioned by President Joseph Boakai, according to a high-profile police source.
The police officer said the altercation was caused by a personal matter between Col. Abraham Kromah and Hassan Fadiga.
The incident did not involve any civilians and there was no use of dangerous weapons; the officer said. “The investigation for this case will be conducted from a disciplinary standpoint,” he added.
The incident caused tension at the LDEA’s office, with loyal officers protecting each of the bosses.
However, it took the intervention of IG Coleman and his team of officers to bring the situation under control by arresting both Kromah and Fadiga.
Earlier, Fadiga had circulated on social media that there is no Zombie Drug in the country, contrary to the report that the drug is on the increase in Liberia. According to the circulation, Fadiga said “there is no evidence to support these claims.” Fadiga further wrote, “We have received several calls regarding the existence of the ‘Zombie Drug’ in our country. As Deputy Director General of Operations for the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), I want to emphatically state that there is no evidence whatsoever to support these claims.”
He meanwhile assured the public and international partners that the LDEA has thoroughly investigated the allegations and found no credible information or evidence to suggest the presence of the “Zombie Drug” in Liberia. Fadiga went on to say, “LDEA’s thorough investigation aims to dispel public fear and maintain trust in the agency’s commitment to safeguarding the nation against drug-related threats.”
Many Liberians saw Fadiga’s statement as a proactive stance in addressing claims that could have caused unnecessary panic.
“The LDEA continues to monitor and address drug-related issues within Liberia, ensuring the safety and security of its citizens and maintaining transparency with the public and international community,” Fadiga’s statement said. It is yet to be established whether Fadiga’s statement is behind the altercation.
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