MONROVIA — A 29-year-old Liberian graduate student, Sam Poar Juday, has reportedly died in India following an alleged assault involving fellow international students, prompting renewed calls for the Liberian government to intervene and strengthen support for Liberian students abroad.
The incident was brought to public attention by exiled Liberian activist Martin K. N. Kollie, who urged authorities to seek justice and ensure the safety of Liberian nationals studying overseas. According to information shared by Kollie and corroborated by multiple Liberian students in India, Juday was allegedly attacked by a group of South Sudanese students and pushed from a building. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
Juday’s colleagues in India have since confirmed his death. Reports indicate that the suspects are currently at large.
Juday was a graduate of Cape Palmas High School in Harper, Maryland County, completing his studies there in 2016. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Biology from William V. S. Tubman University in 2021, graduating with a GPA of 3.36. At the time of his death, he was nearing completion of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Kalinga University in India.
The news has sparked widespread concern within Liberia and among Liberian communities abroad, particularly in India, where the number of Liberian students has been steadily increasing. Advocates say the case highlights longstanding concerns about the treatment and protection of African students in parts of Asia.
“This should be a wake-up call,” Kollie said in his statement, calling on the Liberian government to “stand up for this young Liberian scholar” and to pursue justice through diplomatic and legal channels.
Students and community leaders are also renewing calls for Liberia to establish an embassy or consulate in India, arguing that a stronger diplomatic presence would provide critical support in emergencies and help safeguard the rights of Liberian citizens.
As of press time, Liberian authorities had not issued an official statement on the matter. Many Liberians, however, are urging swift action to ensure a thorough investigation, accountability for those responsible, and greater protection for Liberian students studying abroad.
