Over 12 people have been hospitalized at the Ganta Unity Methodist Hospital in Ganta, Nimba County, following the incident.
The opposition Unity Party Vice running mate, Senator Jeremiah Koung, alongside the self-proclaimed godfather, Senator Prince Johnson, narrowly escaped death after they allegedly fell into an ambush placed on the main road, allegedly on the orders of a defeated representative candidate and son of the late ex-General Anthony Quinwonkpa, who reportedly armed some young people to attack the Opposition Unity Party vice running mate.
Three vehicles, including the music set, one transporting Senator Prince Johnson’s daughter and a former NSA staff currently serving as a security advisor for the campaign team, and a vehicle transporting the newly elected representative for District Number 3, were all hit by single-barrel guns used in the attack on the Unity Party Vice Running Mate and his campaign members.
A resident of the town, who spoke on condition of anonymity, informed our Nimba County correspondent that the young boys used in the attacks included ex-fighters from the district who entered the town and joined other local boys after learning that the Unity Party Vice Running Mate, along with several others, was touring the district to campaign for the Tuesday, November 14 election.
The attackers used long and short-range single-barrel guns, strikes, and other weapons during the attack on Friday, November 10, 2023, in Zor-Zoalay Town on the Sanniquellie-Karnplay Highway in District Number 3.
Those hospitalized include Arthur Yeanmie Junior, 21, who was shot with a single-barrel gun; Marcus Nuah, 18, received a gunshot wound to his back; Crystal Mehn, 35, Senator Prince Johnson’s daughter, was wounded; others include Bobby Biahn, 38, hit with strikes; Festus Luogon, 32, a knife was used on his nose; Deather Wesseh, 21, and Mohamed Kamara, 30, a mechanic brought from Monrovia, was stabbed in the head; Josephus K. Cooper, 32, wounded on his back with strikes; Josephus Johnson, 33, received several wounds on his head; and Bill William, 26, was hit on his head.
Our Nimba County correspondent said that following the attacks on the three vehicles, Senator Jeremiah Koung and Senator Prince Johnson made a U-turn with their vehicles.
Those arrested by the police in connection to the incident in Zor-Zoalay Town include Prince Yarkay, 20; Solomon Gonkaker, 32; Aaron Dennis, 26; and Larry T. Beah, 20; and Lawrence Saye, 42, are currently in police cells in Sanniquellie undergoing investigation.
According to police sources, no deaths have been reported yet.
Our correspondent reported that the police in Karnplay, who gathered in Zor-Zoalay Town to collect information about the incident, were demanded by citizens to leave the town and were not allowed to conduct any investigation.
During the first phase of the elections, several violent incidents took place in the county involving supporters of both the ruling party and the opposition parties.
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica, former staff for the National Security Agency (NSA), Nelsco Alco Wolo, said they entered the town and met the son of the late General Thomas Quinwonkpa, Mr. Anthony Quinwonkpa, who openly told them to leave the town, threatening bloodshed if they didn’t.
Wolo told reporters that prior to the incident, Anthony Quinwonkpa had sent a text message to Senator Prince Johnson, threatening them to stay away, not to enter the town, but if they forced it, blood would be shed before they could leave.
“I sent your text message and informed you people not to come in Zor-Zoalay to run a campaign, but you forced yourselves to come. Your blood will be wasted before you can leave this town,” Wolo told journalists.
He explained that when they entered the town with the Unity Party Vice Running Mate Senator Jeremiah Koung and Senator Prince Johnson, they encountered Anthony Quinwonkpa, who approached them and demanded the Unity Party campaign team to leave the town, stating they were not allowed to campaign in Zor-Zoalay and other towns in District Number 3 in Nimba County.
Nelsco Alco Wolo told journalists that upon their arrival in the town, they believed that Anthony Quinwonkpa had come to greet them, but instead, he confronted them aggressively.
Front Page Africa has learned that Senator Jeremiah Koung toured various towns and villages to engage citizens to turn out in mass numbers to vote for the Unity Party.
Meanwhile, Senator Prince Johnson has expressed gratitude to Nimbaians for voting for him and giving him an additional 27 years to serve as Senator for the county.
Our correspondent reported that since the National Elections Commission announced the opening of campaign activities across the country, there have been many election-related incidents in the county.
Senator Prince Johnson, speaking on local radio in the county, blamed Anthony Quinwonkpa for the incident, alleging that the son of the ex-General Thomas Quinwonkpa has been used by the CDC government after receiving significant cash to go against his own people.
A few months ago, Senator Prince Johnson’s vehicles, along with him and Unity Party Vice Running Mate Senator Jeremiah Koung, were attacked in Gbor Wehyee play, the hometown of Representative Gunpue Kargon, after they had gone to the town to carry out their campaign activities.
Anthony Quinwonkpa failed to respond to many calls and text messages regarding his alleged involvement in the Friday, November 10, 2023 incident that occurred in Zor-Zoalay Town in District Number 3 in Nimba County.
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