By Ibrahim Kaba
Monrovia–Former warlord and Nimba County Senator, Prince Y. Johnson, 72, has died.
According to family sources, the Senator experienced a fall in the bathroom at his home on Wednesday, November 27, and fell into a coma. He was rushed to the Kingdom Care Hospital in Paynesville where he was pronounced dead early this morning.
The cause of his death is unknown as the family remains tight-lipped. Johnson headed the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) following a fallout with former Liberian President and head of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, Charles Taylor.
Senator Johnson joins a growing list of warlords indicted under the TRC report for atrocities but passed without having a day in court. They include Alhaji G.V. Kromah, former head of ULIMO K, former Speaker of the National Transitional Assembly, George Dweh amongst others.
Senator Johnson, the former leader of the defunct Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) is remembered, rather notoriously, for the murder of former Liberian President, Samuel K. Doe.
During appearances at the live hearings of the erstwhile Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Johnson defended his role in the conflict as protector of his people (Nimbaians) who were targeted by the Krahn led government of President Samuel Kanyon Doe.
In a widely shared gory video on the internet, the Senator, scruffy and sipping on a can of Budweiser Beer while calling “Tango, Tango” into a walkie-talkie, ordered the cutting off of the left ear of the former President as he wailed in pain with hands tied at his back.
The Senator is also linked to the killing of famed Liberian musician, Tecumsey Roberts, whom he accused of being gay. During an appearance at the hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Senator Johnson admitted to his men killing Roberts on account of being “a homosexual”.
Liberian musician, Tecumsey Roberts, was allegedly killed by Johnson for being gay.
The Senator’s death follows the recent appointment of Cllr. Jallah Barbu by President Joseph Boakai to head the Office of the War & Economic Crimes Court following a series of false starts.
Gov’t Expresses Shock
The news of the Senator’s passing is also coming as a shock in official circles. A visibly teary Vice President, Jeremiah Koung, wailed uncontrollably during a visit to the home of Senator Johnson.
Koung was pitched as VP to President Boakai by the deceased senator in a collaboration that sealed the fate of the Unity Party to win the 2023 general and presidential elections.
President Joseph Boakai, in a statement from the Executive Mansion expressed sorrow over the passing of the former Senator.
“On behalf of the government and people of Liberia, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Johnson family and the people of our industrious county of Nimba. While we may not have always agreed on the path our nation pursued, we recognize the impact of his work and his dedication to representing the people of Nimba County in the Liberian Senate.
A ‘Villain’, A ‘Hero’
While the news of Senator Prince Y. Johnson’s death reverberates across the country, many have expressed outrage that the Senator passed without having a day in court.
Liberian musician, Cypha D’King (Gbanjah Scott), said he had hoped to see the deceased warlord in jail for eternity. “To boldly state that he never hurt a fly is disrespectful to all of us who have lost loved ones,” he wrote in a statement to journalRAGE.
King’s father, a friend of the Senator, was reportedly murdered on his orders during the civil conflict.
My father (Eric Faulkner Zoebohn Scott) and Prince Johnson were not strangers to each other. He was ambushed, and his death was ordered by Prince Johnson. He died without making amends with the families of those he knew personally and killed. Seeing him voted as a Senator was pure disgust.
His sentiment is shared by Desmond Doe, nephew of Liberian-British businessman, Michael Doe, who was reportedly shot in the head by Senator Johnson and thrown from the balcony of the 5th floor of the now-ruined Hotel Africa.
A Facebook post by Desmond Doe, nephew of British-Liberian business man, Michael Doe who was reportedly killed by Field Marshall Prince Y. Johnson.
Doe, according to former TRC Commissioner, John Stewart, in an article was killed by Johnson over his refusal to turn over monies left in his possession for the upkeep to pay salary and arrears and for the upkeep of staff.
In a Facebook post, Doe’s nephew inferred that he believes his uncle is smiling from above over the passing of the man who allegedly shot him at point-blank range. “There is a time and season. Our hearts are filled with joy this morning.”
Michael Sirleaf, another Liberian who is a victim of the former warlord and Senator in a facebook post stated: “Wow, live by the soul [sword], die by the soul [sword], go and meet my mom that you kill [killed] Prince Y. Johnson; you killed my mom now go meet her.
Although the deceased senator is loathed, he is also revered by some of his kinsmen. Francis Miapue, a Nimba native and a graduate of the University of Liberia in a post stated, “Our hero is no more. Rest Well Senator Johnson.
Ebenezer N. Tuazama said no distraction will deter his kinsmen from mourning the falling Senator. “The hate yall had for him helped him pass 70+ years. We love him in life and in death.”
War Victims Cry for Delayed Justice
Senator Johnson’s passing without facing justice is a sad day for massacre survivors, according to Peterson Sonyah, founder and executive director of the Liberia massacre Survivor Association.
“Yes, Senator Johnson is gone. But if we were to speed up this whole process, and then Senator Johnson and those other guys who have left the surface of this earth facing justice, it’s going to be good,” he said in a telephone interview with journalRAGE. “It’s going to tell us their role they played in the Liberian civil war, the arms and ammunition they purchased to wage war on Liberians, how they get the funding etc.”
“We’re talking about war crimes court—who are we going to prosecute when we continue to lose these alleged perpetrators?”
‘This story was funded by the European Union under the Liberia Media Empowerment Project (LMEP). Its contents are the sole responsibility of journalRAGE and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.’
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