IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia-7 February 2018:The Liberia National Police has arrested, and is investigating eight students of the University of Liberia following an early Monday morning protest on the main campus of the State-run-university on Capitol Hill.
The protest led to the smashing of the back windshield of the official vehicle assigned to House Speaker Bhofal Chambers. The Speaker was heading to work when his vehicle came under attacked by the rioting students.
UL students early Monday morning began putting up roadblocks before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and throwing stones on the main road, something that led to traffic congestion for hours before the intervention of the Liberian National Police.
A LNP Statement said, their officers responding to the riot scene were attacked by the rioting UL students with stones, and other foreign materials, something the LNP described as unacceptable and has the potential to undermine the rule of law, and frighten potential visitors to the country.
The LNP said as the result of the protest, two of its officers from the Police Support Unit sustained serious wounds and are currently undergoing medical treatment at a local hospital in Monrovia.
The LNP said while it remains committed to upholding the rule of law, and respecting rights of citizens, such rights must be exercised within the framework of the law, and encouraged the protesting students to seek the path of dialogue to address their grievances.
Those arrested include 19 years old Abraham Tawally, Varflay Konneh 29, Dennis S. Walker 22, and Alue M. Gboy 27, other are James Kolleh 25, James M. Kpoto, Rosa Parks 23, and Mokrous T. Maasaquoi.
The eight students have been released to the custody of their lawyer, and are expected to return on tomorrow Tuesday February 6, 2018 to continue with the investigation.
Meanwhile On Monday, aggrieved students gathered at the Fendall campus before the Chinese building, chanting their normal slogans. They then gathered near the vehicle of UL president Weeks and called for her resignation, along with her deputy, Dr. Sawolo Nelson, the dean of students.
The aggrieved students, through their spokesman, Heylobe Mark, told the Independent Probe Newspaper that following Friday’s protest on both campuses, the UL Administration assured them that the registration process would open on Monday, February 5 – adding that it was based on President George Weah’s mandate – but surprisingly, upon their arrival on campus yesterday the process was still closed on both campuses, something which he described as ‘delayed tactics.’
Fendall campus was calm on Monday as compared to the main campus where reports said some aggrieved students were seen throwing stones at the vehicle of Speaker Bhofal Chambers.
“We are here again today to tell the UL Administration that we are not going to relent until the process is open. We were told that Monday, which is today, the process will be opened,” Mark noted.
He said the problem at the state-run university is currently beyond the issue of registration, adding that there are other elements that are impeding the learning process at the University, and until these elements are eliminated there will continue to be uprisings. He named one of the elements as Dr. Sawolo, who he alleged has a hidden agenda.
“We want to inform you that Dr. Nelson Sawolo wants to become the next president of UL. We can assure you that from now to next week Monday, if Dr. Sawolo does not resign, the Fendall campus will be a no-go zone for both of them.’’ ,” he alleged.
