Gbarnga, Bong County - The start of day three of the Vision 2030 National Conference in Bong County was plagued by a negative side attraction when aggrieved motorcyclists protested the stabbing of their colleague, by an AFL personnel (not identified), assigned at the Camp Tubman Military Barracks in Gbarnga.

Normal business activities were paralyzed around the Iron Gate community as aggrieved motorcyclists set road blocks and put tires ablaze on the road.

The incident stalled the movement of vehicles for nearly four hours and drew a sigh of disbelief from onlookers.

Vigorous efforts exerted by personnel of the Police Support Unit (PSU) to calm the situation proved futile after outraged motorcyclists started throwing stones at AFL soldiers who were on guard post.

Their actions lasted for about fifteen minutes before furious soldiers, armed with cutlasses and shovels, consolidated to dislodge the on rushing motorcyclists from the entrance of the barracks.

No death was reported but Hospital sources told FrontPageAfrica that the victim’s condition is alarmingly worrisome contrary to heightening information that he has died.

How it all started

Eye witnesses’ account revealed that the hostility ensued when a fiancée of the (AFL) personnel refused to pay a fare of LD 30.00 requested by the motorcyclist on grounds that she could only afford paying the normal amount of LD 20.00.

Her persistent refusal to remit the cost prompted heated exchange of words with the motorcyclist.And that is said to have later provoked to anger the AFL personnel, who, reports say, was not too far from the scene.

Eye witnesses claim the AFL personnel stabbed the motorcyclist for what he termed “an offense” to his fiancée. FrontPageAfrica’s reporter on the scene saw several bruises on the victim’s neck an hour after the situation erupted.

A semblance of 2002 Riot in Gbarnga

As many would predict, it was an unsavory incident that almost mirrored that of the 2002 riot in Gbarnga that involved scores of students in Bong and former Bong County police commander Isaac Willie who shot and killed a student of the St. Peter’s Episcopal High School.

Rep. George Mulbah, the House’s chairman on National Defense in a chat with FPA said Wednesday’s situation painted an ugly picture for an institution Government wholeheartedly depends on to protect its citizens when UNMIL departs the country.

When asked about the ramifications such an act poses to citizens, Rep. Mulbah said: “It puts our citizens in constant fear. We had thought the presence of the AFL soldiers would be a help to us but now it seems to be a threat to us.”

Senator Henry Yallah, who led that infamous riot in Gbarnga in 2002 during as President of Bong County Student Union (BONGSU) also failed to convince the angry crowd.

He however expressed regret over the incident and assured that the Bong Legislative Caucus will ensure that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

Senator Yallah added: “The days of people inflicting wounds on our citizens are over. For too long we have been victimized as the result brutality from AFL soldiers. This is the last!!!!!”

Day-to-day normalities between police and Bong resident have somewhat been associated with less conflict but since the deployment of AFL soldiers near Gbarnga, assault on civilians has overwhelmingly heightened.

Guilty Soldiers will be disrobed – Commander Lawau

The commander of the Camp Tubman Military Barracks only identified as Major Lewau revealed that he has already notified of two officers responsible for the incident — one for allegedly slapping Rep. Bill Adam Corneh and the other, more embarrassingly, for stabbing a motorcyclist.

He said the latter will be disrobed at the end of an investigation that has just begun. Lawau, a Nigerian national said the act demonstrated by his soldiers was counterproductive to the norms of the military and as such it will not go unnoticed.

In a strong worded statement, the Camp Tubman Barracks commander offered apology to relatives of the victim and hopes that he recovers as soon as possible. The tension is said to have subsided but family of the victim are still keen to hear the outcome of their relative’s recuperation.