Red-Light Marketers Protest ‘Harassment’ -City Police Routine Enforcement Turns Sour 

MONROVIA – The Red Light Market conundrum exemplifies the complex interplay between urban governance and economic survival in Liberia, as the government’s efforts to enforce market regulations and relocate vendors are met with resistance and violence, highlighting the delicate balance between maintaining public order and protecting the livelihoods of thousands of traders who depend on the informal economy. The situation is further complicated by the alleged assault of a pregnant woman, Fatu Amara, by city police, which sparked the unrest and highlights the human cost of enforcement efforts. As THE ANALYST’s George C. Flomo reports, the incident underscores the need for a more nuanced approach to addressing the root causes of street selling, including poverty and lack of alternative economic opportunities, rather than relying solely on enforcement and relocation.

A routine enforcement exercise by the Paynesville City Police (PCP) on Wednesday morning turned violent after a tussle between a city officer and a pregnant street vendor sparked hours of unrest, leading to a massive protest by aggrieved market women in the Red Light commercial district.

The incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. when Officer Solomon L. Boikai, who was enforcing city ordinances against street selling, engaged a pregnant woman identified as Fatu Amara, 39.

According to eyewitnesses, the altercation arose after the officer attempted to remove the vendor from the main road, where hundreds of sellers often leave their designated corridors to sell directly along the busy traffic routes.

During the confrontation, the pregnant woman reportedly fell unconscious, prompting widespread panic in the area. Initial fears among marketers were that she had died—a rumor that quickly spread and intensified tensions. She was later rushed to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, where doctors confirmed she was alive, stable, and responding to treatment.

Market Consumed in Rage

The incident triggered a chaotic response from marketers, many of whom stormed the PCC outpost (the “PCC booth”) at Red Light, smashing windows and vandalizing property. Several city officers abandoned their posts and removed their uniforms to avoid retaliation from the angry crowd.

“We saw our friend fall, and people started shouting that she was dead. We couldn’t take it. Every day they (PCC officers) beat us like animals,” said Mary, one of the protesting vendors.

Another protester, who gave her name only as Sia, said: “We are not criminals. We only sell to feed our children. If you say don’t sell here, give us a better place or help us move. But beating a pregnant woman? That is wickedness.”

By mid-morning, hundreds of aggrieved traders moved from Red Light to the Paynesville City Corporation headquarters on Du-Port Road, demanding justice and calling for the officer’s dismissal.

PCC Reacts — Officer Recalled, Suspended

In response, the PCC issued two official statements confirming that Officer Boikai had been recalled, then suspended, while being turned over to the Liberia National Police (LNP) for a full investigation.

 The PCC said in a release: “The safety and well-being of all citizens remain our utmost priority… PCC has immediately recalled Officer Solomon Boikai from active duty pending a comprehensive investigation.”

 “The officer has been turned over to the Liberia National Police for a full investigation. Appropriate actions will be taken once the investigation is concluded.”

 The PCC also confirmed that the pregnant vendor, Fatu Amara, is stable and undergoing treatment.

 Recurring Tensions Over Market Regulation

Wednesday’s unrest revives long-standing tensions between city authorities and Red Light traders over enforcement of market regulations. Despite repeated government directives, many marketers continue selling along major roadways, obstructing traffic and posing safety risks for commuters.

 The City Police have been undergoing training and redeployment to minimize street selling and restore order—but enforcement efforts remain widely contested by the market community.

 Omega Market: The Unsettled Question

 The protest also reopened a politically sensitive debate regarding the future of Red Light Market.

Omega Market, constructed during the previous administration, was intended to host thousands of traders relocated from Red Light. However, a mixture of economic, political, and logistical concerns has hindered full relocation.

 Several marketers who spoke to me said they believe politics has stalled the move.

 “If they take the market from Red Light, the people won’t vote for the President. That’s what some big people say,” claimed Ma Sarah, a vegetable seller. “So they allow confusion to continue.”

 The Wednesday protest appeared to validate these concerns, as vendors defiantly returned to the main highway by afternoon—selling in open defiance of the regulations they had been removed from just hours earlier.

 Will Marketers Ever Move to Omega?

 The latest incident underscores a fundamental challenge for the Boakai administration: whether to enforce the relocation to Omega Market or continue allowing an overcrowded, unregulated Red Light to operate.

 Key considerations include:

 Safety: Street selling on crowded roads poses daily risks, including accidents and health hazards.

 Traffic flow: Red Light remains one of Liberia’s most congested corridors.

 Politics: Any abrupt relocation could trigger backlash from thousands of market dwellers—an important voting bloc.

 Economics: Many traders argue Omega lacks the daily traffic flow needed for viable business.

 Urban order: Authorities insist Red Light cannot remain unregulated indefinitely.

 With Wednesday’s violence and the PCC’s quick suspension of Officer Boikai, analysts say the government faces a growing dilemma: tighten enforcement and risk political fallout, or maintain the status quo and risk recurring clashes.

 Marketers Demand Justice, City Promises Investigation

 As of Wednesday evening, calm had returned to Red Light, but the atmosphere remained tense. Marketers insist they want justice for their colleague, while city authorities maintain that a full, impartial investigation is underway.

 For now, the core question persists: Will the Red Light Market finally be relocated to Omega—or will enforcement continue to clash with street-level economic survival?