According to the Liberia News Agency, the lawmakers made the call at their Capitol Building office in a briefing to journalists on their official position as a caucus recently.

Representative Tokpah, according to the caucus, had gone to the county based on a request from fellow lawmakers to probe issues arising from the ArcelorMittal concession area, which had been identified as a serious possible hindrance to the
smooth operations of the company.

The lawmakers added that as the House was in session, the arrest of the lawmaker impeded the work of the Legislature and could be considered contemptuous under the Constitution.

The lawmakers also indicated that the Government has a duty to protect every elected official and that the Executive Branch as the enforcer of the law has the primary obligation of fulfilling that duty.

The police officers, according to the Nimba Caucus, included the hierarchy of both the Nimba branch of the Liberia National Police and personnel of the Emergency Response Unit.
LINA WTD/TSS/PTK