Residents Of Liberian Port City Of Buchanan Worried over Rebels Attack

Residents of Buchanan and its environs are said to be living in fear and deeply worried over the apparent spreading of dissident activities in the country, particularly the south-eastern region. Their fear has been heightened by the threat of an attack in the county by rebels of the Movement of Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) in the southeast.

MODEL’s threat was aired in a recent BBC newscast pointing at the Grand Bassa County as the next target in three weeks after they have allegedly captured Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Grand Kru, River Gee and Maryland counties.

The leadership of MODEL also assured that their next chat with BBC reporters will be from their position in the coastal city of Buchanan shortly.

Predicated upon this threat, the citizens during a mass meeting last week, resolved to conduct a regular fast and prayer for the restoration of lasting peace, and the formation of a community watch team in each of the nine(9) zones in the city corporation and its surroundings to help security beef-up patrols to protect the county against any eventuality.

During the meeting, Defense Minister Daniel Chea, a son of the county, expressed grave concern about the widespread of dissident activities in the country, especially by MODEL rebels in the southeast.

Defense Minister Chea asserted that government forces were doing everything possible to regain the afore-mentioned counties MODEL is claiming control over.

For its part, the Grand Bassa County Legislative Caucus headed by its chairman, Hilary Y. Reeves also expressed its fullest support to the protection of the county against any hostility.

Superintendent Ellen J. Natt, who lauded the massive turn out at the meeting called for unity among the citizens and strive to protect the county against any eventuality through the method discussed.

During a previous meeting, a committee chaired by Mr. Julius Jones and co-chaired by Madam Elaine Jackson was set up to organize the community watch team in the 47 blocks of the nine (9) zones, but up to press time, nothing has been done.

When contacted later, Chairman Jones said the formation of the community watch team is gradually gaining momentum.