Top Defense Ministry officials Monday held closed doors talks with Senator Prince Johnson at his Paynesville residence after violent mob attached his church on Sunday.
Details from the discussion have not been made public. While outcomes are still unknown it is likely that the security chiefs including the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia may have talked the lawmaker into dropping his plan to recruit 500 men to counter future attacks at his church.
Police in Monrovia told the Oracle News Daily they are investigating the matter. Since the Sunday incident when violent mob stormed the premises of the Faith Chapel
Ministries, forcing presiding preacher PYJ and congregation to escape into safety, the police has made no arrest.
Members, officials, visitors, and Senator Johnson had gathered for their normal worship service on Lovers Street, Paynesville, when a group of thuggish youth of the
National Patriotic Party attacked the Church because they do not like Johnson style of preaching.
“Next week Sunday, we will be preparing for them. 500 men will be here to protect the church and congregation. Look, nobody can chase me out of here and I think they
know me well but because of peace we cannot follow their ungodly act, “Johnson, a former warlord said.
Harry Yuan, spokesperson of a group called Nimba County Council of Elders wants the Ministry of Justice to arrest, investigate and prosecute all those involved in what
they see as politically-motivated invasion of the church premises by violence, lawlessness, threats, and intimidation during the worship service.
“We are deeply disturbed and troubled that on Sunday, May 21, 2023, certain members of the ruling coalition for Democratic Change dressed in their party red CDC
berets and resolved to sow seeds of political confusion in Liberia when they invaded the church compound of Senator Johnson intimidating him while preaching the
gospel, thereby forced members of his congregation to abandon their peaceful worship and went home.”
Lawyer Arthur Johnson whose client the Mayor of Monrovia is accused as mastermind of the attack took to his Facebook page warned citizens to desist from things that would trigger violence.
“Senator Prince Johnson is not a joker. Do not underestimate him and provoke him with violence
“What happened today at his church has far reaching consequences for our peace if it continues. Nimba can never ignore or abandon her own. Stop this. I speak from history not from today.
“We want peace always because we saw with our own eyes what happened in 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, World War I, II, & III. Some people were not born at that time or even if they were born, they knew not.
