Stephen M. Broh, a security guard and one of the defendants in the arson attack on the Capitol Building, broke down in tears on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as he appeared before Stipendiary Magistrate L. Ben Barco at the Monrovia City Court.
Broh, a member of the Legislative Security Service (LSS), was arrested on March 22, 2025, following an extensive investigation by the Liberia National Police (LNP), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS). Charged with arson, criminal conspiracy, reckless burning, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment of human life, he had been held in police custody for 16 days before his court appearance.
He is among several individuals accused of orchestrating the fire that ravaged the Joint Chambers, the fourth floor, and the Dome of the Capitol Building on December 18, 2024. The blaze, which caused extensive damage to vital government infrastructure, has raised serious concerns about security breaches and potential sabotage within the legislature.
According to the police charge sheet, Broh and his co-conspirators allegedly set the fire deliberately to disrupt legislative proceedings. Investigators revealed that gasoline was used as an accelerant, rapidly spreading the flames that destroyed crucial parts of the legislative complex. Authorities have identified Thomas Isaac Etheridge, currently in custody, as another key suspect, while several others remain at large.
Broh is accused of playing a critical role in the attack, allegedly helping transport gasoline to the Capitol Building and directly participating in setting the fire. The incident has left an estimated $8.6 million in damages, including structural deterioration such as bent steel beams in the Joint Chambers and severe defacing of the Dome.
The investigation, which involved the questioning of over 60 individuals present near the scene, uncovered key evidence, including a box of matches believed to have been used to start the fire. Authorities also noted that Broh, employed by the LSS since 2023, had irregular attendance at work. On the morning of the attack, he and his accomplices allegedly arrived at the Capitol Building in a white JAC double-cabin vehicle before executing their plan.
Law enforcement agencies continue their search for additional suspects linked to the conspiracy. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with investigators to bring those responsible to justice.
The charges against Broh and his co-defendants emphasize the severity of the crime, which not only disrupted national governance but also put lives at risk and inflicted damage on a key government institution. Broh has been remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison and is awaiting trial.
