MONROVIA, Montserrado – Members of the Liberia National Student Union have made allegations of misappropriation of funds against the organization’s president, Varney Alieu Jarsey, which were meant to be spent on a national quizzing tournament among various secondary schools across the country.

LINSU recently requested from the government US$135,000 to organize the quizzing tournament. The government made available US$100,000 with the balance of US$35,000 to be deposited after the completion of the tournament.

Protesters allege that Jarsey had given money to several schools in rural Liberia without the approval of the Executive Committee.

They also alleged that the LINSU President unilaterally withdrew money from the institution’s account at the Guaranteed Trust Bank.

Speaking on Prime FM last Wednesday, Jarsey denied the allegations against him and said that the claims came from detractors.

On Wednesday, several students stormed the offices of LINSU on the UN Drive and brought normal traffic to a halt for hours.

The protesters demanded that Jarsey step down in the wake of the corruption allegations.

Police and students engage in verbal confrontation. Photo: Zeze Ballah

The Police Support Unit of the Liberia National Police was called in to restore order, but some students resisted.

The protesting students sang anti-Jarsey chants as the police officers tried to disperse them.

Tension ensues among the police officers and protesting students when two unnamed students were arrested.  They were later released.

Police talk to students. Photo: Zeze Ballah

In an attempt to disburse the protesting students, a police officer shot tear gas into the air which landed in a nearby house and wounded a 25-year-old woman named Cecelia Woker.

Cecelia Woker sustained injury from the tear gas fired by police. Photo: Zeze Ballah

Jarsey was eventually suspended following the protests.

With the unfolding situation, it is unlikely that qualified schools from rural Liberia will travel to Monrovia to participate in the next round of the quizzing tournament.

The tournament is the first of its kind in the counties among secondary schools.

LINSU is an organization created by an act of the Liberian legislature in 1952 to serve as a national union of students across the country.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah