Every citizen needs security, but an incumbent Pres
ident needs it most. It was for the protection of Ellen at the Nimba 2010 celebrations, the SSS planned strict security measures, wrote the Legislature to inform the august body about the measures. Though Ellen was apologetic in her letter to the Honorable House on behalf of the SSS, As Our Staff Samuka V. Konneh Reports, the Elite Special Security remained undaunted and unperturbed in its plans, despite the evident apology of the president. In what seems to be fulfillments of the declared “Strict Jacket Security” Protocol professed by the Special Security Service of the Executive Mansion, Personnel of the service remain undaunted in the protection of the President of Liberian and her entourage during these 26 Celebrations in Nimba County. Security Personnel from Thursday through Friday were vigilantly assigned and deployed in Ganta City where the President was to attend an Intercessory Prayer Service organized by the National Muslim Council of Liberia.
Traveling with the National Chairman of the National Muslim Council of Liberia, a reporter of this paper undoubtedly observed that all vehicles were staying 100 yards, even more at times and particular places away from the President’s convoy.
Since the President was to have made a stop in Gbarnga City, Bong County, to greet a group of women calling for the 2nd round presidency of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and a dedication of other projects at Suakoko, vehicles travelling to Nimba County have to stay 100 yards before and after the presidential convoy, thereby making travelers to reach their respective destinations very deep in night.
Women and children were seen standing by the roadside awaiting the president’s arrival all day and some have to relinquish their effort of welcoming the president due to fatigue, hunger. They have been playing drums and singing traditional songs in pleasantries for the president and her delegation. This paper also discovered that due to her late arrival, President Sirleaf and her entourage did not get the appropriate and deserving welcome in Bong and Nimba Countries at this time and that many of her planned protocols were disregarded due to time factor. “The president would not stop anywhere deep in the night,” one drunk but enlightened celebrant told me as he walked away.
Baela, a border town between Bong and Nimba Counties was a main scene of celebration but people were seen there up till 8pm still awaiting the president’s arrival. It is not clear whether the president made a stop at this jammed packed program because ‘strict jacket security’ protocol asked that all vehicles before and after the president must stay 100 yards away.
Plying on this brushed and patched pod-hole highway, some Representatives and Senators traveling at that time were warned to stay clear 100 yards of the president. This was strange as the president has earlier on apologized to the members of the Legislature for a letter written to that august body from SSS informing them of their straight jacket security measure.
In Ganta City on Friday, as early as 7am, security personnel were deployed especially at the Ganta Central Mosque in wait for president Sirleaf and delegation. Officers of LNP, armed SSS and UNMIL Pakistani Contingent were regularly patrolling the area.
Top personalities seen while this strict jacket security measure was on course were Defense Minister Brownie Samukai, Immigration Commissioner Chris Massaquoi, Acting Foreign Minister Bull and PW Minister Koffi Woods alongside hierarchies of the Special Security Service, National Fire Service and other security apparatuses.
Some observers were stunned by the huge presence of personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia who were in a somewhat jubilant, but alert posture. One bystander noted, “Except for the Armed Forces Day, I have never seen such large number of army on the street in present day Liberia.” Another person said, “But do they think that it is war we are fighting here or what?”
But Nimba is no strange place in the history of Liberia’s civil war. The county played host to the NPFL war in 1989 headed by former president Charles Taylor who is now in The Hague on 11 counts of Charges of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. Ganta in particular, was a fierce battle front during the wars between LURD rebels and government forces. And now, Ganta is the main place in Nimba where land dispute is prevalent between Mandingoes on one hand and Mano and Gio on the other.
It can be recalled vividly that a group of Mandingoes from Nimba County threatened to boycott the 2010 July 26 celebrations in protest of the government’s alleged reluctance to once-and-for all settle the Nimba land dispute. Ganta is also one of the parts of Liberia that has the large concentration of ex-combatants. Post-war analysts have observed that land dispute has the potential for conflicts or security implications. All of the above, analytically, are good reasons for massive deployment of security.
And so as Citizens of Nimba stood by the road, they were aware of the unmistakable presence of alert securities. People who dressed ‘unfavorably’ were turned down to attend the president’s arrival by SSS personnel. A former fighter was turned down to attend the worship service. From their deployment at 7am, security personnel remained assigned until 1pm when the President arrived for a brief worship service.
