The Community Watch Forum in Cape Mount has successfully apprehended the alleged killer of 22-year-old Kadiatu Dorley.
The suspect, identified as Soko Dorley, also known as “Mother Blessings,” was turned over to the Liberia National Police (LNP) after a dramatic chase.
According to Foday Brown, Coordinator of the Community Watch Forum in Gola Konneh District, the capture was a coordinated effort. “When I heard about the murder on the radio, I alerted all my men to be vigilant,” Brown said. Early Friday morning, Chris M. Dowah, CEO Bridge, informed him that Dorley was spotted in Jawajeh Danda.
The community attempted to apprehend him, but he escaped towards Macca or Gbenii.
“We kept watch since Thursday night,” Brown continued. “Our town, Gbenii, has a crossing point to Sackie Town in Senjeh District, Bomi County. One of my men spotted someone trying to cross the Lofa River but failing. We lured him into town with promises of clothes and food.”
To avoid mob justice, Brown arranged for four motorcycles to transport Dorley to the Lofa Bridge Police Station around 1:20 PM.
Sources close to the Lofa Bridge Security reported that Dorley confessed to the murder, claiming he was influenced by a friend. Dorley recounted that after drinking heavily, a friend informed him that his girlfriend, Kadiatu, was at a club with Turkish men.
Enraged, he confronted her at the club but later returned to his room. When Kadiatu came home, their argument escalated into a fatal altercation.
The murder of Kadiatu Dorley has shocked the Gola Konneh District. The incident took place at Gold Camp, where Town Chief Alexander Haines, under the directive of General Town Chief Thomas Faylajuah, set up roadblocks to prevent Dorley’s escape. However, Dorley had already fled the town.
Local radio station D-1 Radio FM 106.9 MHz and Lofa Bridge Police Commander Chris Moses Dowah alerted communities to be on the lookout for the suspect. Dorley is now in police custody, awaiting charges and court proceedings. Kadiatu Dorley has been laid to rest.
The tragic events unfolded early Wednesday morning when Kadiatu was found critically injured and bleeding. She succumbed to her injuries shortly after being discovered.
Eyewitnesses reported that the argument between Kadiatu and her boyfriend, “Mother Blessings,” escalated over allegations of her involvement with Turkish employees of the Nblama Mines of Bea Mountain Mining Corporation.
After an initial confrontation at a local entertainment center, friends intervened, seemingly resolving the dispute. However, Dorley later followed Kadiatu home and brutally attacked her, stabbing her multiple times. Despite her efforts to seek help, Kadiatu died from her injuries.
This incident is not an isolated case in Gold Camp. Previous violent occurrences have highlighted the need for stronger community and law enforcement cooperation.
In September 2023, Mamadee Jalloh, known as Didier Drogba, was fatally stabbed, leading to residents demanding mob justice against the suspect. Similarly, in 2022, a mob attack resulted in the death of a man after he stabbed a colleague.
The capture of Soko Dorley underscores the ongoing challenges and the community’s resilience in addressing violence and seeking justice.
By: Elijah M. Boimah, Correspondent
