By By Contributing Writer
Officers of the Liberian National Police (LNP) have moved in to secure the Sorlumba border area in Foya District after tensions flared earlier Wednesday, raising fears of a possible clash along the Liberia–Guinea frontier.
Authorities say the situation has since stabilized following the intervention of Deputy Police Director Col. J. Nelson Freeman of Police Unit 102, alongside local county officials who engaged groups of young people that had mobilized near the border amid concerns about alleged encroachment by Guinean troops.
The deployment of police is aimed at restoring order and preventing any further escalation between civilians on the Liberian side and armed personnel positioned across the Makona River.
After arriving at the border zone, Deputy Police Director Freeman held a dialogue with dozens of youths gathered near the disputed area. He praised them for their alertness and sense of patriotism but urged them to step back and allow state security agencies to manage the situation.
Freeman acknowledged the concerns expressed by residents about protecting Liberia’s territorial integrity but stressed that national security forces have now taken full responsibility for safeguarding the area.
He reassured the young people that the police are present to protect the community and appealed for their cooperation while authorities address the matter.
Lofa County Superintendent Lavelah Massaquoi also sought to calm public anxiety, assuring residents that the immediate tension has subsided.
Speaking during a live interview on Voice of Lofa TV, the superintendent explained that the issue has already been reported to the national government and is now being handled at the diplomatic level between Liberia and Guinea.
He emphasized that the situation is a matter for the two governments to address and called on residents to remain peaceful while national authorities work toward a resolution.
Superintendent Massaquoi further urged young people who had assembled along the border to avoid returning to the riverbank where the confrontation occurred.
He stressed that security personnel are already stationed at the border and are capable of maintaining order and ensuring the safety of nearby communities.
According to him, residents should remain within Liberian territory and allow government authorities to resolve the matter through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Meanwhile, Foya Statutory Superintendent Joseph S. Mbokar has begun visiting several towns and villages across the district to reassure residents and encourage those who fled during the earlier tension to return home.
Mbokar described the situation as a misunderstanding rather than an outbreak of conflict and urged community members not to panic.
Local leaders say police will maintain a presence around the Sorlumba border as authorities continue to monitor the situation while awaiting further diplomatic engagement between Liberia and Guinea.
Although calm has largely returned, many residents living along the Makona River corridor remain watchful as officials work to prevent any renewed tension in the sensitive border region.
