By Lofa County District one Representative, F. Sakila Nyumalin, has raised serious concerns about what he alleges to be biases in the ongoing investigation into the violent clashes that occurred in Foya district on September 29, 2023, during the Liberian elections. The violence, involving supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Opposition Unity Party (UP), resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals. Representative Nyumalin, a staunch member of the Unity Party, accuses the Liberia National Police (LNP) of showing partiality by arresting only members of the UP and failing to take any action against CDC members involved in the attack.
Nyumalin claims that three members of the Unity Party, including the UP district coordinator Augustine B. Samukai, are currently detained in the Lofa central prison while no members of the ruling CDC have been called in for questioning. He also highlighted his dissatisfaction with Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue’s response, alleging that Sudue dismissed his concerns about the impartiality of the LNP’s investigation.
Meanwhile, The People New Online tried reaching out to Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue through a telephone call but to no avail. The violent clashes in Foya have drawn widespread condemnation from institutions such as the LCC, ECOWAS, and the United Nations, all of which have called for an immediate and unbiased investigation into the incident.
As the investigation unfolds, concerns about fairness and transparency in the process continue to grow. The violence in Foya has raised questions about the state of political tension in Liberia during the elections and the need for swift and unbiased legal action to hold those responsible accountable. The allegations of bias in the investigation, made by a prominent political figure like Representative Nyumalin, add a layer of complexity to an already delicate situation, where public trust in the justice system’s ability to deliver impartial justice is at stake. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the investigation can overcome these allegations and bring clarity and justice to the Foya clashes.
By: Alphanso G. Kalama
