Liberia’s fragility is no longer an excuse

The Liberia National Police reiterates its commitment to fighting crimes across the country, regardless who’s involved.

By Lincoln G. Peters 

Margibi, Liberia, January 29, 2025 – The Inspector General of Police, Col. Gregory Coleman, warns that the fragility of Liberia’s peace and democracy will no longer be an excuse for individuals to commit crimes and get away with their bad deeds and behaviors, while vowing to investigate and prosecute all those linked to the Capitol Building fire incident. 

The Liberia National Police (LNP) recently wrote the House of Representatives, requesting the appearance of several lawmakers identified as “persons of interest” in connection with the fire incident at the Capitol.

Lawmakers summoned include Representatives Dixon Seboe, Marvin Cole, Frank Foko, Precilla Cooper, Abu Kamara, and embattled House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.

Speaking in an interview with Journalists at the Liberia National Police Headquarters in Monrovia on Monday, January 27, 2025, IG Coleman assured the public that in accordance with law, people will answer for crimes they committed.

“I want everyone to know this; we will no longer use the fragility of our peace and democracy, as an excuse for individual to commit crimes and get away with their bad deeds and behaviors. We have fought war and all those have gone and so, we can’t continue to close our eyes on crimes on the basis of fragile peace. We will investigate and if those lawmakers invited are found guilty, they will be charged and forwarded to court.” He maintains.

According to the Police IG, the Liberian civil war had long ended, for individuals to be committing crime under the garment of the peace is so “fragile”.

He clarifies that investigation conducted by the Joint team in the Capitol Building fire incident is void of political influence, adding that they are following pieces of evidence therefore, where the evidence leads toward the crime that is where they will follow.

He clarifies that investigation conducted by the Liberia National Fire and Rescue Service and the Liberia National Police and others is not targeting, neither connected to any political party, as claimed by the former ruling CDC.

He discloses that those who are called by the LNP, are people of interest that have acted independently and they are not charged, but rather people of interest.

“Liberian citizens stand on the Democracy to act, they were elected on the basis of democracy; if you are called by the police, they have to honor the call. Those Representatives of the 55th national legislature invited are people of interest. This is the first step by the LNP investigators and honoring the investigation and providing information to Police is another step.” 

However, IG Coleman says the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is assured that the investigation process has not been manipulated, but if the party has disagreement, they are allowed to seek court attention based on their position as an accredited political party.

The Police also alarm that there are lots of misinformation and disinformation campaign  that are being carried out to undermine ongoing investigation and  individuals that are behind those campaign will be arrested by the LNP.