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Security Shoot Out in
Paynesville Following Liberia-Niger's Match
The NEWS (Monrovia)
October 14, 2002
George Bardue
Monrovia
Pandemonium broke out last Saturday at the ELWA junction in Paynesville when
sporadic gunfire left thousands of football fans running helter-skelter for
their lives following the Liberia-Niger soccer match in which the Mena of
Niger lost to Liberia's Lone Star 0-1.
The shooting which lasted for nearly 30 minutes was among security officers,
but circumstances leading to the shootout could not be independently
established, as our sports reporters also ran for their lives.
Private, commercial and diplomatic vehicles were seen in near collision
while business houses were forced to shut down due to the shootout. Peddlers
also said they lost their goods during the incident.
As panic-civilians were fleeing to safety, some security officers were heard
shouting precautionary measure, "lie flat on your stomach, we will bring the
situation under control."
Traffic was diverted to the Redlight route in an apparent fear that the
situation could result to uncontrollable eventuality on the Congo Town route
where the President's residence is located.
Several persons were reported wounded while others allegedly linked to the
shooting were reportedly arrested.
President Charles Taylor has condemned the shooting incident, describing it
as "irresponsible and an exercise of bad judgement" on the part of those
involved.
According to a MICAT release, President Taylor said the incident posed an
embarrassment to the government and people of Liberia, and assured that
anyone found guilty in the matter will be disciplined under the full force
of the law.
The release indicated that President Taylor has ordered the joint security
command to make adjustments and improvements in the Standard Operating
Procedures of the respective security agencies so as to avoid the recurrence
of the incident.
The MICAT release confirmed that a number of injuries were sustained by
security officers on both sides of the Special Security Service and the
Special Operation Division of the Executive Mansion and the Liberia National
Police respectively.
The Government has attributed the shoot-out to a traffic altercation
following the soccer match.
The Government also said prelimenary investigation into the incident found
the shoot-out was due to illegal discharge of fire arm, . |
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