IPNEWS – MONROVIA: The death has been reported of the last, direct senior bodyguard to former Liberian President Dakpannah Dr. Charles Ghankay Taylor.
Mr. Momoh Gebah (Jibba), who was more famously known around Monrovia as “Bull Dog”, because of his body stature and build, reportedly died late Friday, November 25, 2022 evening in Monrovia.
Even though his family has not officially announced the cause of his passing, however, IPNEWS understands the late Bull Dog died following months of being diagnosed with hypertension.
Bull Dog, who was born on April 9, 1966, became very famous in Monrovia following a statement he had made at one gathering before the 1997 Presidential Election that Mr. Taylor overwhelmingly won. At that gathering, Mr. Jibba reportedly said: “President Taylor donated me to the Liberia National Police.”
Just before Taylor had won the election, he (Taylor) along with others, including the late Professor Alhaji G. V. Kromah, was part of a Five-man Council. These five most-powerful men at the time steered the state of affairs of Liberia as the majority of them were all rebel factional leaders, who had parts and parcels of Liberia under their rebel factions’ control.
During the reign of this 5-man Council, each of the rebel leaders had to second some of their men to various “national” positions. So, it was when Councilman Taylor sent Jibba to serve as Deputy for Operations of the Liberia National Police; hence the famous saying: “President Taylor donated me to the Liberia National Police.”
Following the 1997 Presidential Election, the former President recalled Bull Dog and made him one of his bodyguards. Bull Dog rose through that rank and later became the direct Aide-de-Camp and head of all bodyguards of the former President.
Momo Jibba, who went by the Facebook profile Duayen P. Behn, joined Mr. Taylor’s rebel movement, National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), sometime in April of 1990 when the rebel forces captured Bong Mines, where he had stayed before the war.
His educational level is unknown. However, he began his education at Zarweata Public School in Bong Mines. His father was a mechanic and ran a garage in the John Hill Community of the old German mining town of Bong Mines.
Following his capture and subsequent force conscription into the rebel movement, he became one of the loyal soldiers for NPFL. He showed his loyalty by steaking by the side of Mr. Taylor until the very last day of his boss’ departure from Liberia on August 11, 2003, and going into exile in Nigeria. Some of those who were on the scene when Mr. Taylor was leaving his house on that August 11 day, have said Bull Dog was seen weeping bitterly. A few years following the former President’s departure, Bull Dog fell on hard times. He could be seen around Monrovia in rags. He was no longer that elegant soldier where the ambiance around him was full of respect from junior officers and others. There are reports that he began using illicit drugs, including crack cocaine and others.
He was married to Mrs. Tanneh Kojo Jibba, who presently resides in Edmonton, Canada.
RIP, Bull Dog.
