In the wake of Monday, April 25, 2024 night mudslide in Chio Town, River Cess County that has so far killed 11 people and left others severely injured, county authorities are shifting blames on stubble citizens and the Ministry of Mines and Energy for the tragic incidence.
County Attorney, Martin Tumen, who also heads the Joint Security, is blaming the citizens for not adhering to the mandate of state security who arrived at the mining site before the mudslide. He said such disaster could have been avoided if citizens were to obey the security orders.
He told our correspondent that the security appropriately responded to the situation in time, but was attacked by the citizens who invaded the mining site after a discovery of gold deposit.
Tumoe explained that when his office was contacted on Monday evening, it immediately dispatched ten officers to the site to instill law and order, but were overpowered by the angry citizens despite calling for backup.
“They stoned our officers until they had to withdraw from the area. Even the backup troop from ITI, they were overpowered by the angry citizens,” Attorney Tumoe explained.
He said there was still security present after the mudslide, but the guards felt demotivated after the county authority without consulting his office handed over the security mandate of the mining site to the traditional authority before the arrival of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) troop.
According to our correspondent, the troop arrived on Thursday morning, March 28, 2024 to provide security and some logistical supports to the county authorities, because there were still illicit miners secretly going to the site and doing underground mining.
For his part, River Cess County District #1 Representative Joe Grant says the Ministry of Mines and Energy must be blamed for poorly regulating the mining sector.
He said his district has learned a great lesson from the Chio Town disaster in District #2 and will take steps to avoid similar disasters.
Addressing a team of reporters at the site last week, Representative Grant said the act of illicit miming is leading to serious problems across the country and must be properly handled by the Ministry Mines and Energy.
A survivor of the mudslide Evelyn Cee has confirmed that the Joint Security were attacked by the angry citizens who felt that the security wants to denied them from benefiting from their resources.
She said they were later allowed by the security to take only a bag of dirty per two persons, something that got the citizens agitated and went amok throwing stones at the officers.
The number of deaths in the disaster has risen to 11 following the demise of one of survivals who was being treated at the JFK Hospital in Monrovia. .
The news of the passing of Aaron Harris was confirmed early Sunday morning, March 31 by family sources.
Meanwhile, River Cess County Superintendent designate Byron W. Zahnwea has described the mudslide as disheartening and calls for donors support as the county recovers from such disaster.
Our correspondent noted that Rivercess is home to hundreds of illicit goldmines that have turned into areas that facilitate crimes such as drugs trafficking, murder and ritualistic activities. Women and children have been mostly victimized by these acts.
