Bong County: Totota Fire Victims Express Disappointment Over Report by Disaster Management Committee

By: Jangar Boimah Johnson | Bong County Correspondent

Totota, Bong County –Tuesday, November 11, 2025–Residents of Totota have expressed disenchantment in the recent report issued by the tanker explosion Disaster Management Committee.

On November 8, 2025, the Totota accident disaster management committee (DMC), headed by Tornala Varpilah presented the report on behalf of the committee and mentioned that funds generated during the accident was used to cater to citizens who were involved in the accident.

According to him, portion of the money was used to purchase fuel to transport victims at various health facilities in and out of the County coupled with the transportation of dead bodies and the purchasing of drugs among other.

On December 26, 2023, a tanker belonging to “God’s Willing Business Center” carrying a consignment of gasoline from Monrovia to Nimba, was involved in an accident in the city of Totota; in front of the Totota Upper Room Church.

At the time, citizens present on the scene got involved in hauling the gasoline from the accident–affected tanker without care and caution; which in effect led to a huge fire explosion leading to the death of over 40 persons and leaving more than 50 persons injured in its wake.

Following Chairman Varpilah report, Moses Nahan, Youth President of District #6 expressed dissatisfaction in the Committee’s report and openly said the report contains information that are not factual.

The District #6, Youth president mentioned that the report presented to them on November 8, 2025, was not accurate; something that triggered their decision to call for an independent audit, which wasn’t done at all.

He expressed utmost surprise, that the Committee without conducting itself to audit, yet chose to present the previously already questioned report and stated that, “If the committee cannot come out with correct and adequate report, we will be left with no other option but take unspecified action which will compel the Committee to doing the right thing,” he told Rural Reporters News Network in Totota.

Another person who escaped the fire accident, Wesseh B. McGill, who happens to be a student; said it was so disheartening to hear report from the committee chairman, Mr. Varpilah announcing that 22 persons were admitted at ELWA Hospital in Monrovia, but only 5 survived.

The citizens of Totota are calling on leaders of the county to see reason and institute an independent audit for the sake of transparency and accountability.

The fire victims and families who lost their love ones, speaking during the report complained that the report presented to them was not inaccurate and thereby called on the Committee and leaders of the county to see reason and revisit the report.

The citizens however criticized some officials of Bong County who attended the ceremony for allegedly interfering in the report process by not giving them the opportunity to ask the committee chairman Varpilah questions regarding the report.

“We are so disappointed in our leader for not affording us the time to ask Mr. Varpilah the hard questions, when it comes to how money was used in the process, something the citizens lamented.”