CDC Secretary General Jefferson T. Koijee has formally called on the United States Embassy in Monrovia to review and suspend its support to the police force amid heightened incidents of police brutality.
In a strongly worded communication addressed to Joe Zadrozny, Koijee accused the LNP of evolving into what he described as a “state-sanctioned militia force,” citing a pattern of alleged brutality, misconduct, and lack of accountability.
Koijee’s complaint centers on claims that U.S. assistance intended to strengthen democratic policing and human rights protections is being misused under the leadership of Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman. He warned that continued support risks enabling abuses and undermining both Liberia’s democracy and U.S. credibility.
The CDC Secretary General outlined a series of troubling allegations, including police inaction in major crimes such as drug trafficking and organized violence, alongside accusations of direct involvement by officers in misconduct ranging from sexual violence to abuse of power.
He further referenced recent confrontations between police and student protesters in Monrovia, where members of the Students Unification Party were reportedly teargassed, arrested, and detained. According to Koijee, a leaked recording allegedly shows detainees being stripped and tortured while in police custody claims that have yet to be independently verified.
Even more alarming, Koijee pointed to what he described as an assassination attempt on Representative Saah Foko, allegedly involving state security actors an incident he says reflects a broader pattern of intimidation targeting both officials and civilians.
Central to the complaint is a list of alleged cases involving deaths, shootings, and brutality linked to police actions, many of which Koijee says have seen “no state investigation or prosecution.”
Among them are:
Amanda Nebo – reportedly murdered in April 2024
Morris Gomo – died in custody in July 2024
Austine Yarkpawolo – death linked to police brutality
Bangalie Kamara and Essah Massaley – both shot by police
Prince Wreyou – died in custody
A 19-year-old suspect – found dead in police detention in Voinjama (2025)
Koijee argues that the absence of accountability in these cases reinforces public perception that the police operate with impunity.
Call for U.S. Action
The CDC official is urging the U.S. government to take decisive steps, including:
Launching an independent investigation into how U.S. support to the LNP is used
Temporarily suspending or restructuring assistance.
Conditioning future aid on measurable reforms, including human rights compliance
Increasing transparency around international support to Liberia’s security sector
He emphasized that while Liberia values its longstanding relationship with the United States, that partnership must not inadvertently support practices that harm citizens.
