IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia-29 March 2018:The director of the Liberia Refugee Rehabilitation Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), Rev. Festus B. Logan has begun a comprehensive data collection which covers ‘hardcore criminals’, zogos and zogolyns amongst others in the country.
Zogos and zogolyns, in the local parlance are both male and female street gangsters who are involved in robberies and snatching away of valuables from passersby.
According to Rev. Logan, the exercise among other things is intended to make known the number of “societal disconnected” individuals who are, on a daily basis stereotyped as insignificant persons to the growth of the country they all claim ownership to.
Making remark over the weekend at the close of his tour to properties of the commission, including land and housing units in Congo Town, Bentol City, Schefflin Town and Johnsonville, Logan said gone are the days when disadvantaged and less fortunate persons should be treated as less important in society.
“They are human beings and they all came from homes, but as it is, every home has challenges. These challenges, if not carefully dealt with by those serving in government and other spaces of public engagements, we all become victims of the actions of those same people we think are worthless,” he said.
He said a team will soon be organized and charged with the responsibility to travel through the nooks and corners of Monrovia and its environs to write down the particulars of the zogos and zogolyns, and other basic information the commission will use to create a data base that will help in the reintegration of those disadvantaged, less fortunate and disappointed individuals.
“Somebody may care to know about how we intend raising the funds to take care of this delicate project like this, but with God above, we are destined to succeed. We will seek assistance from UNHCR and other partners, including our local partners to get this done,” he said.
He pointed out that the Johnsonville site is now operated by the Liberian returnees, adding that the commission’s properties, which is about three acres of land located in Schefflin Town, after the Edward Beyan Kesselly Barracks on the Robertsfield highway, is expected to be developed in ensuring that Liberians deported from any parts of the world have a transition before reintegrating in their respective communities of choice.
He at the same time disclosed that 82 low cost housing units are temporarily occupied by former Sierra Leon refugees who have naturalized and accepted integration into the Liberian community.
The functions of the LRRRC are to lead humanitarian intervention in coordination with the government, and other UN agencies and NGOs.
The office also seeks durable solutions for refugees and, in this respect; a tripartite agreement was signed in August 2011 with the Governments of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire on the voluntary repatriation of Ivorian refugees.
