Shallon S. Gonlor / shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY — The Executive Director of the Alliance for Peace, Justice, and Human Rights, Abigail B.L. Kanneh, has raised alarm over the increasing number of mysterious killings and disappearances in Liberia, calling on the government to intervene urgently.
Speaking on the issue, Kanneh expressed deep concern over the daily deaths of individuals—particularly motorcyclists and sex workers—who she says are among the most vulnerable.
She revealed that the Alliance for Peace, Justice and Human Rights (APJHR), has recorded numerous mysterious killings from 2024 to the present, with victims often found with missing body parts across Liberia.
According to her, a ritualistic cartel is allegedly operating in Liberia, that is harvesting body parts and targeting individuals traveling via tricycles (Kehkeh), buses, and motorcycles.
She accused the government, under President Joseph Boakai, of failing to address the alarming situation, leaving citizens in fear for their safety.
While she did not accuse the government of direct involvement, Kanneh stressed that it has a statutory responsibility to protect citizens and investigate wrongful deaths.
She urged the government to establish a special committee to investigate these incidents and called on President Boakai to declare the killings a national emergency.
To push for action, Kanneh announced plans for a three-day protest, urging Liberians to join in demanding government intervention beginning February 3, 2025.
She also rejected the notion that these killings should be blamed on disadvantaged youth, commonly known as “Zokos,” arguing that such crimes are beyond their capacity.
According to her, Zokos may engage in theft but are unlikely to be responsible for harvesting body parts, suggesting the involvement of a dark market network.
Kanneh further urged law enforcement agencies to intensify night patrols, as most of these incidents reportedly occur at night. She warned that if the situation is not addressed, public trust in Liberia’s justice system will continue to erode.
Another critical issue Freeman highlighted is the lack of transparency in addressing gender-based violence (GBV).
She noted that over the past year, the Ministry of Gender has failed to publish a single report on GBV cases, leaving stakeholders without the necessary data to assess the scale of the crisis and implement targeted interventions.
Freeman called on President Boakai to take immediate action under the Rule of Law pillar of the ARREST Agenda, which focuses on justice, security, and governance.
She has urged Boakai’s administration to strengthen security measures and investigations to address rising mysterious deaths and restore public trust.
Furthermore, she’s demanding the government implement concrete legal actions to uphold justice and protect human rights nationwide and publish comprehensive GBV reports to ensure informed interventions and accountability.
