MONROVIA – Residents of the Brewerville VOA Community are living in fear after the gruesome murder of a 19-year-old and 11th-grade student from Kpallah Community School. The victim, William Johnson, was brutally stabbed multiple times by unknown assailants last weekend.
William Johnson, hailing from Brewerville, Montserrado County, was attacked on the VOA#1 Road Community. His parents, Haji Johnson and Jebeh Kolulo, are originally from Grand Cape Mount County. The tragic incident has sparked outrage and concern among the residents.
In response to Johnson’s murder, community leaders from approximately ten neighborhoods within the general VOA#1 Road Community, spanning from the VOA#1 Road Junction to Jah Tondo Town and down to the Atlantic Ocean beach, held a mass meeting. This gathering aimed to address the rising insecurity in the area.
Bishop Kortu Brown commented on the situation, stating, “As a result of the murder of a youth in the VOA Community last week, the area is on edge. People are worried about the growing insecurity, the permeation of illicit drugs, and the lawlessness on the streets at night, among other issues.”
Authorities from LNP Zone #3, Depot 3 were invited to the stakeholders’ consultation to discuss the community’s concerns and explore collaborative efforts with the police and local authorities to tackle the growing insecurity and drug problems.
The meeting, held at the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church compound on the VOA #1 Community Road, resolved to build greater cooperation and inclusion to address the challenges facing Brewerville VOA Community residents.
The Clan Chief and General Town Chief of the Kpallah Clan were present and supported the idea of forming vigilante groups in their respective communities to curb the rising wave of insecurity.
Residents are calling on the Liberia National Police to increase their efforts by conducting daily patrols in the area to help reduce the crime rate. They highlighted that insecurity, theft, and violent attacks are not unique to Brewerville but are issues faced by communities across the country.
The community emphasized that the criminal activities sometimes provoke residents to take the law into their own hands, often resulting in the beating and sometimes death of suspected criminals.
As Brewerville residents seek to reclaim safety and security in their neighborhood, they stress the importance of proactive measures and cooperation between the community and law enforcement to combat crime effectively.
