Liberia: Anti-Power Theft Conflict in Cadwell Takes Fatal Turn: 42-Year-Old Joecephus Tukpeh Dies Amidst Tussle

Unfortunately, this exercise ended with the sudden death of 42-year-old Tukpeh on the same day, on grounds that he was allegedly involved in an illegal connection on the power line of the Liberia Electricity Corporation in his personally built house in the same area.

Many eyewitnesses said bitter exchanges ensued between the victim and the anti-power theft officers as well as the two officers of the LNP when they accused him of illegally connecting current from the LEC pole to his house. But Tukpeh clarified that his actively reading meter was placed inside the house to prevent criminals from stealing it, as it often happened.

“A few minutes after the deceased was confronted, he left the scene but he abruptly received a phone call from his biological father who told him via the call that he was needed urgently to see something.

Upon his return, he and the anti-power theft team got into another argument regarding the same matter. This time, they began calling him a criminal, which prompted him to flee the scene, anticipating uncertainty.

Frederick S. Segar, one of the victims of the alleged brutal actions of both the LEC team and PSU officers, told FrontPage Africa that the entire anti-power theft crew, including the PSU officers, relentlessly pursued the fellow, chanting ‘rogue-rogue’. Segar added that the victim fell in a potato greens garden but managed to enter his mother’s house about 15 minutes’ walk away from where the confrontation began.

Speaking further on the incident scene on Saturday morning, March 2, 2024, Segar said the guys on the exercise were very hostile in their approach. Even when the victim sought refuge in his mother’s house, they still pursued him to manhandle him.

The resident added that he quickly recognized Tukpeh leaning against a wall and excessively panting prior to his death in the house, noting that he firmly told the anti-power theft team and the police that the fellow was not a criminal.

Despite this clarity, Segar said, in no time, he and two of the power theft team members engaged in a heated argument as one of the LEC guys reportedly slapped the alleged criminal in the face, even though the victim could not retaliate due to his unconscious state.

According to him, the anti-power theft team members and the male PSU officer were smelling of alcohol, while the officer did not have his police-assigned badge number on his uniform but had a firearm in his hand.

Segar also narrated that when the house was opened, the other seven members of the anti-power theft team rushed in, and one took off his working helmet and allegedly hit the already unconscious Tukpeh on the head.

He noted that the guys also used other working tools, including their specialized iron they use for climbing poles, while the male police officer cruelly used the butt of his AK47 gun to hit Tukeph in the chest and head.

“I was the only man along with two women, my mother and another with two kids in the house to battle them because Tukpeh was helpless. Four of them even attacked me by shocking my neck and using their pliers on my neck and side, as you can see the bruises,” Segar emotionally explained with tears rolling down his eyes.

According to him, what was shocking was the continuous absence of concerned residents to either make an effort to break into the house or apply other actions amid the long-lasting tussles in the house, stressing that Tukpeh’s condition worsened to the point where it was difficult to determine whether or not he was breathing freely or if he could survive the unbearable pains.

Segar further said the anti-power theft officers immediately forced the unconscious victim into their operation vehicle, drove away but while in route with cuffs on the victim’s hands, around one Moses’ shop, he cried for water to drink. In a short moment, one of the guys got a bag of water and forced it into his mouth to drink.

He narrated that these unusual treatments suddenly led to the untimely death of 42-year-old Joecephus Tukpeh before arriving at the medical center, just a few days ahead of the first wedding anniversary of him and his wife, Mrs. Vanell K. Tukpeh, on March 26, 2024.

Madam Tukpeh and the rest of the family members, including the residents of the community, are calling on the Liberian government to ensure that justice is dispensed for the late Joecephus Tukpeh.

“My husband built a house to die because that’s what they’re telling me. My husband was never involved in power theft. All the houses here have LEC meters, but even if my husband were stealing current, is that why you kill another peaceful Liberian who tried to run from you for his life? I need justice for my husband. This broad daylight killing was intentional,” she cried.

Rep. Abu Kamara and Senator Nathaniel McGill’s Visit

On the same Saturday, the lawmaker of the electoral district where the tragic incident occurred, Representative Abu Bana Kamara, and Margibi County Senator, Nathaniel Farlo McGill, visited the bereaved family and the residents and offered their heartfelt condolences.

Sharply reacting to the situation, Representative Kamara issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Liberian government to take prompt action, or he will lead thousands of citizens in a mass protest to seek justice for the late Tukpeh.

“No matter what the allegation may be, no citizen or a group of citizens has the right to take away the life of another citizen; this is absolutely unacceptable, and as the leader of this constituency, we will press on for justice to be served impartially,” Rep. Kamara, who is also the National Vice Chair for Inter-party Affairs of the Coalition for Democratic Change, emphasized.

CDC’s SG, Jefferson Koijee, and Former Rep. George Visit

A few hours later, the Secretary-General of the CDC, Jefferson Tamba Koijee, accompanied by the former Representative of Montserrado County Electoral District #7, Solomon George, and other executives of the party, also paid a visit to the family of the deceased to express their concerns.

Koijee met, sat, and interacted with the wife, mother, father, and other relatives of the late Tukpeh as Mrs. Tukeph explained her ordeal.

In a brief interview with the team of journalists following a tour of the entire community to get full details about the incident, Koijee described the alleged perpetrators as bloodthirsty creatures who have no feeling for fellow human beings.

While in support of justice, the chief scribe of the major opposition party in the country disclosed that the National Executive Committee of the CDC will convene an emergency meeting on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at their national headquarters to finalize and communicate the party’s definite position to the government and the public.

At the same time, former Representative George urged the bereaved family to demand the conduct of an autopsy to establish the actual cause of death.

Management of Liberia Electricity Corporation’s Response

However, in a press statement issued on Saturday, March 2, 2024, by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), expressed deep regret and sadness over the tragic incident, denounced any form of violence, and assured the public of its unwavering support to the police investigation to ensure that justice is served.

“In response to this unfortunate event, the Liberia Electricity Corporation is collaborating with law enforcement authorities, who have launched an investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident,” the release said.

The Management of the LEC also pledged its fullest cooperation and support to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.

It disclosed that immediately, the authority dispatched a team on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 7:00 pm, and met with the immediate family of the deceased, including parents and other relatives at the victim’s residence in Caldwell.

“The management convened this morning at about 11:00 am with the entire family present and will continue to engage with the family and all stakeholders to gather further information and offer support during this challenging time,” the statement noted.

The corporation assures the family of its unwavering support throughout the investigation process and during this period of mourning.

Liberia National Police Holds Major Press Conference

Also addressing a major news conference Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police, the Inspector General of police, Col. Gregory Coleman disclosed that the two PSU officers of the LNP as well as the entire LEC anti-power theft crew in connection to the incident have been arrested.

According to the police IG, those individuals are thoroughly being investigated by the relevant authorities, promising that the Liberia National Police will not hesitate in coming days to publish the investigation report to the public upon the full completion of the matter.

What Actually Happened at Stockton Creek Medical Center of Dr. Bah

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer and Administrator of the Stockton Creek Health Center, Dr. Mohammed Ali Bah clarified to FrontPage Africa in an exclusive interview at his office around the Caldwell Bridge that victim Joecephus S. Tukpeh did not die at his health facility.

“About 1:30 pm to 2, yesterday, I was at the A. M. Dogliotti College of Medicine you know this Ph.D. program flying around in public health, most people trying to take advantage so I went to get information about it and then, I received a call from an unknown person that the clinic is on fire. I said ‘but what will put the clinic on fire’, they could not explain to me”.

He narrated that while he was away from the center, quoting the account of his nurses and security on duties, the pickup of the LEC anti-power theft team accompanied by two police officers, stopped at the gate with excessive speed and opened the gate; a situation which he claimed led to one of staff falling to the ground.

“I asked the nurse about what happened and she said people in the LEC car stopped at the gate, just got down with this man [the late Tukpeh]. I think you can see the entrance it faces the road. So when they came, stepped through the door, you know the girl fell behind her desk and they just took the man and put him on the ground and the nurse looked at the man on the ground and said but this man seems to be lifeless; they jumped in their car and ran away,” Dr. Bah narrated.

According to the medical expert, the nurse and an officer of the LNP ran behind the LEC vehicle to the corporation’s sub-office on the Bushrod Island but noted that at the moment, another group of angry citizens posted outside of the entity’s fence demanding justice.

When his team returned to the clinic, Dr. Bah explained that the dead body remained medically untouched by any of his staff until the LNP officers who protected the body for at least seven (7) hours at the facility declared it national government’s property and further ordered its removal at about 9:00 pm the same day.

“Our whole business was down yesterday, all of our patients had to leave the place because of the violence and that is all we know and nothing else more than that,” he said.

At the same time, Dr. Mohammed Alie Bah expressed frustration over the damages of some parts of his facility, including the additional expenses the aggrieved citizens’ actions have caused him due to the destruction of some of his major medical equipment.

He then urged all citizens who may be aggrieved for whatever reason to always take advantage of the rule of law instead of infringing on the rights of other peaceful citizens through violence as a means of seeking redress as he also committed to cooperating with any form of investigation as always.

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