Congo Town and downtown Monrovia.

The current police force in the Liberian capital Monrovia is unable to combat an increase in violent crime, according to
a recent independent report and many of the city’s residents have created their own civil defence groups. I remember when the house care-taker, a fellow that works at our residential compound have to leave an hour early from work to join the vigilant patrol in his neighborhood. He also added that the group is equipping themselves with maschettis and wooden stick when combing streets within their area.

“Armed robbery is on the increase in Monrovia and we are not convinced that our police force can handle this type of crime,” said a community leader in the crime-prone suburb of Paynesville in the east of Monrovia where locals have formed patrols.

In another Monrovia suburb, New Kru Town, Nyononti Darbgeh, who supervises a civilian night patrol team there, said the situation is so bad, “We have no choice but to provide security for ourselves.”

The UN and Liberian police officials in Monrovia confirmed that crime has been steadily increasing in recent months with 47 reported cases of violent assault and theft from March to April. Just yesterday night, I was lucky enough to be given an opportunity to witness and documenting the on-going night patrols implemented jointly by the Indian Formed Female Police Unit and the Liberian National Police, strolling the night walking the dark passages, of the inner avenues and alleyway in areas like Sinkor, Congo Town and downtown Monrovia.