The Secretary General of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson Koijee, has released a report alleging 22 human rights violations under the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
The accusations, which include claims of police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and politically motivated harassment, have sparked renewed concerns over governance and law enforcement practices in the country.
Koijee’s report focuses on the role of the Liberia National Police (LNP) under Inspector General Gregory Coleman, accusing the force of acting as a political tool rather than an independent law enforcement body.
The CDC alleges that the LNP recently doctored an audio recording to implicate Etheridge Thomas, a move the opposition describes as evidence of unprofessional conduct and political interference.
The report further criticizes Coleman for reinstating controversial figures such as Johnny Bolar Dean, Assistant Commissioner for Crime Services, and Sam Ballah, Deputy Chief Investigator. Both men had previously been dismissed under questionable circumstances, and their return, according to the CDC, has deepened public distrust in law enforcement.
The opposition also raises concerns over handling the Capitol Hill fire incident, suggesting a potential cover-up. Koijee has called for an independent international investigation into the police’s involvement in the events surrounding the fire. “Those responsible for maintaining law and order must not act as both judge and jury in cases where they have clear conflicts of interest,” the report states.
According to the CDC, since Boakai assumed office in January 2024, Liberia has seen an alarming rise in human rights violations. The report highlights police shootings, mysterious deaths in custody, and unprosecuted violent crimes. Among the most serious allegations are the police killings of Bangalie Kamara and Essah Massaley on February 28, 2024. It also cites the mutilated body of a woman identified as Yarmah, found in Lofa County, as evidence of increasing insecurity.
Additionally, the report accuses the government of selective justice, pointing to the unresolved cases of Isaiah Benedicto Williams, who allegedly died from an overdose at St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital, and businessman Hassan Jalloh, reportedly murdered by Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officers. “There has been no state prosecution in these cases, raising questions about the administration’s commitment to justice,” the report asserts.
The CDC contends that law enforcement agencies have been weaponized against political opponents while ordinary Liberians face growing injustices. It further alleges that key government officials are complicit in shielding perpetrators of violence, highlighting the case of former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott, who faced murder charges but was later appointed to a government position. The opposition argues that her appointment emphasizes a pattern of selective justice.
