Monrovia — The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has strongly condemned what it describes as the degrading and inhumane treatment of a woman and a young girl during an alleged operation carried out by officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), calling for an immediate, independent investigation and accountability for those involved.
By Patience M. Jones, patiencejones@frontpageafricaonline.com
The condemnation follows the circulation of a disturbing video on social media that appears to show LDEA officers forcing their way into a home, where a woman was left completely naked while being filmed. The footage also shows a visibly distressed young girl present during the operation, reportedly pleading amid the chaos as officers continued with the raid.
Although WONGOSOL said it is still verifying the exact location and circumstances surrounding the incident, the organization described the images in the video as deeply disturbing and incompatible with the standards expected of professional law enforcement officers.
According to WONGOSOL, the most troubling aspect of the video is that rather than allowing the woman to cover herself, officers allegedly continued recording her while making remarks that appeared to mock and humiliate her. One officer is reportedly heard saying words to the effect of, “You’re naked; I’ll record you.”
“If authentic, this conduct is cruel, degrading, and completely inconsistent with the professionalism expected of law enforcement,” the organization stated.
WONGOSOL stressed that while it fully supports Liberia’s efforts to combat the growing threat of illicit drugs, no law enforcement operation should come at the expense of a person’s dignity and fundamental rights.
“The authority to investigate and arrest does not include the authority to humiliate,” the organization emphasized, adding that human rights are not suspended simply because someone is suspected of committing a crime.
The women’s rights organization reminded authorities that the Liberian Constitution guarantees equality before the law under Article 11 and due process protections under Article 21. It also cited Liberia’s obligations under international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which prohibit cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
WONGOSOL said the presence of a young girl during the operation makes the incident even more alarming, warning that exposing children to violent or humiliating law enforcement actions can have lasting psychological consequences.
The organization called on the Director General of the LDEA and the Ministry of Justice to immediately launch a prompt, transparent, and independent investigation into the incident. It further urged that any officer found responsible be held fully accountable under the law.
Beyond accountability, WONGOSOL is calling for broader reforms within Liberia’s law enforcement agencies, including enhanced training on constitutional rights, gender-responsive policing, child protection, and the lawful use of force. It also recommended clear protocols prohibiting officers from unnecessarily recording or disseminating images of individuals in degrading circumstances during official operations.
Appealing to the conscience of the nation, WONGOSOL posed a question to Liberians: “If the woman in that video were your mother, sister, wife, or daughter, would this treatment be acceptable?”
The organization concluded by reaffirming its commitment to defending the rights of women and girls across Liberia.
“Every woman deserves dignity. Every child deserves protection. Every suspect deserves due process. These are rights, not privileges,” WONGOSOL declared, pledging to continue speaking out against abuse and demanding justice regardless of who the perpetrators may be.
