MONROVIA – The Executive Protection Service (EPS) is currently investigating allegations of an attack on former Vice President of Liberia, Chief Dr Jewel Howard Taylor. According to EPS Director Sam Gaye, the preliminary investigation has found no evidence to support claims that the former VP was attacked by an unknown assailant in the Duport Road area.
In a press statement issued today, Gaye detailed that the EPS investigation revealed that Taylor was traveling in a two-vehicle convoy when a sound emanated from one of the vehicle’s back windshields, causing minor damage. Contrary to media reports, there was no indication that another vehicle crashed into the convoy.
Following the incident, the area was searched, and interviews were conducted with pedestrians and local residents. However, no witnesses reported seeing anyone throwing projectiles at the former VP’s vehicle.
The EPS investigation suggests that gravel from the tire of a moving vehicle in the opposite lane may have struck the rear windshield. While this remains a hypothesis, it is inconclusive, and there is no evidence indicating a deliberate attack.
The EPS emphasized its commitment to providing protection services to the President, Vice President, their families, and other VIPs, stressing that it seeks to establish facts and will not be swayed by political narratives or unfounded allegations.
Currently, the EPS provides protection to former Vice President Howard-Taylor with nearly half a dozen well-trained agents and two police officers. The EPS assured that it takes the security of its protectees seriously.
The incident in question dates back to Saturday, May 25, 2024, when former Vice President Howard-Taylor issued a press statement alleging an act of violence against her. She claimed that while traveling through the Duport Road community in Paynesville, Montserrado County, her vehicle was subjected to a targeted attack by unknown assailants, resulting in damage to the vehicle’s rear windshield.
Howard-Taylor’s statement described the incident as an escalation of the security challenges she has faced. She has repeatedly expressed concerns about her safety to the current administration, citing insufficient support and lack of enhanced protection from the EPS. Her statement also highlighted the broader security issues facing ordinary Liberians.
“It is particularly distressing to note that since the new administration took over, there has been insufficient support in terms of security for former Vice President Howard-Taylor,” the statement read. “No official or security vehicles have been provided, leaving her insufficiently protected. This raises serious concerns about the commitment to the safety of individuals who have served at the highest levels of government,” the statement concluded.
