Liberia mourns perished Christians. Pres. Weah visits survivors, site of Wednesday’s tragedy
Liberia’s President George Weah, Thursday visited survivors of Wednesday’s night Bushrod Island stampede and assured families of the victims and survivors that the nation stands with them during this period of national tragedy; report James Kokulo Fasuekoi in Minnesota & Patrick Stephen Tokpah in Monrovia/Banner photograph of President George Weah by Mozart M. Dennis
In less than 24 hours following Wednesday’s night crusade disaster in New Kru Town, Bushrod Island , Liberia’s President George Weah made it a national duty by visiting survivors of the stampede that left at least 29 Christians dead.
President Weah was accompanied by scores of government officials including Liberia’s Maritime Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe. Weah called the unfortunate event a “national tragedy” as the country Saturday entered its third day of mourning.
Global Ekklesia had reported Thursday evening that President Weah was planning to travel Friday and inspect the site of the tragedy which occurred at the D. Tweh Memorial High School football field. Instead, Weah visited there Thursday evening while on his way to meet survivors at Redemption Hospital.
Altogether 15 survivors, some in critical medical conditions, were taken to nearby Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town for treatment soon after the tragedy. The crusade was organized by Pastor Abraham Kromah of the Word of Life Outreach Ministry.
Dozens of terrifying but tasteless photographs of most of the victims (some half-naked, appearing dirty, having been run over), shot on cell phones at the scene moments after the stampede have been distributed all over the world.
A bunch of pictures wired to the Global Ekklesia and reviewed by our editor-a former AP war photographer-showed the lifeless bodies of dozens of victims sprawled across the hospital ward which looks like a makeshift morgue.
People panicked, running helter-skelter at the end of a jammed packed church meeting when words quickly spread among the worshippers that some armed gangs had surrounded or infiltrated the compound of the crusade, robbing people at gun and knife points.
So far Police said they have arrested one male figure near the scene who was carrying a knife. Also the photo of a locally manufactured short gun with a long sharp scissor, put on display by security men appeared to form part of weapons seized from the alleged attackers.
Meanwhile, President George Weah, speaking to journalists after his visit with survivors, emphasized that all “necessary security measures must be taken to avoid a future repeat.”
Along the same line, he suggested “future large gatherings must meet security approval before such a program is held.” “A very sad day in our country and a tragedy,” he continued, adding “I want to express our sympathy to all the families that lost loved ones.”
The Gospel of Psalm 34:18 states thus “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” while Romans 12:15 recalls “…Mourn with those who mourn.”
Our correspondent in the capital said President Weah has mandated the Liberian national Police Force to conduct a “full-scale investigation to ascertain whether or not there is [was] criminal culpability” involved.
Members of the House of Representatives, he said, also visited the families of victims living in Bushrod Island Thursday.
Related article: Liberia: Tragedy at church crusade, over 30 feared dead!
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