MONROVIA – Close to 15 officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) including one high-ranking officer, have been disrobed, in connection with the escape of Peaches Queen Johnson alias “Female General” from police custody over the weekend.
Popularly known as Queen Johnson, a zealot of the incoming ruling Unity Party (UP), was picked up by officers of the LNP on Friday, 5 January 2023, having previously been declared wanted by police in connection with the death of a staunch member of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, Joshua Solomon, as a result of a violent campaign-related clash between individuals believed to be supporters of CDC and UP last year.
A little over a month after she and others to be identified were declared wanted by the police, Queen Johnson was arrested over the weekend, but a senior police officer, Ithamar Harding, with service code Unit 187, in whose care she was entrusted to turn her over at the Headquarters of the LNP for interrogation, later allegedly whisked her off the premises of the police Headquarters, on Capitol Hill, Monrovia, to an unknown destination, according to police spokesman Moses Carter.
Carter told a press conference Saturday that as a result of Queen Johnson’s escape, senior officer Ithamar and all of the arresting officers including scores of officers of the LNP Anti-robbery Unit and others from the Police Support Unit that effectuated her arrest on Friday, have been disrobed and turned over to the LNP
Professional Standard Division, for investigation regarding the escape of the Unity Party’s “Female General.”
In the wake of the testimonies abstracted from the other officers, fingers are pointed at senior officer Ithamar, the Chief for Technical Services of the LNP Public Safety Division.
It is alleged that senior officer Ithamar is the mastermind behind Queen Johnson’s escape, according to police spokesman Carter, who is urging him to report to the Professional Standard Division of the LNP for investigation.
“We seek to ensure that the rule of law is upheld, and to ensure that anyone who comes into conflict with the rule of law faces the penalties,” Carter noted.
