Sightings of armed men in Liberia raise concerns

By Alpha Kamara

KOLDA, Senagal (AA) - Liberian locals close to the border with Sierra Leone have said they had seen a deployment of unidentified armed men over the weekend.

Police superintendent of Bomi County Samuel Brown confirmed to Anadolu Agency Tuesday morning that the situation was being investigated.

“I will advise the residents to strengthen their neighborhood watch because we don’t want any situation that will threaten the peace and security of Liberia,” he said.

The armed men reportedly landed in a black helicopter in the Fula Hill village, in the Klay district - one of the four of Bomi County - according to a farmer who claimed to be an eyewitness of the scene.

The farmer Moustafa Keikula told Liberian local media the gunmen had been deployed by helicopter while he was on his farm on Sunday. He said he heard gunshots before he fled to the village.

It is yet unclear from where the armed men came or how many there were.

The Liberian Defense Ministry was expected to hold a news conference Tuesday morning to address the issue but it was postponed.

The alleged incident comes almost a month since UN forces moved out of Liberia.

Across the border, in Sierra Leone, Francis Munu, the country's inspector general of police, issued a statement saying the situation was being closely monitored.

He added that no attack had occurred within the country.

Both countries were plagued by devastating civil wars in the 1990s and early 2000s and fears of conflict remain.