MONROVIA – The Liberia National Police (LNP) on Friday dramatically escalated its confrontation with STAND Chairman Mulbah Morlu by declaring him “armed and dangerous” and ordering the immediate surrender of a government-issued firearm allegedly seized from a police officer during the July 17 “Boakai Must Lead or Leave” protest on Capitol Hill.
The declaration came hours after thousands of demonstrators marched through Capitol Hill demanding accountability over Liberia’s unresolved US$19 million cocaine trafficking scandal, a protest that heightened political tensions between the Boakai administration and organizers of the STAND-led movement.
In a statement issued Friday evening, the LNP said it had received what it described as credible intelligence indicating that the firearm allegedly taken from a police officer during the demonstration was intended to be used for “unlawful and nefarious purposes.”
Based on that intelligence, police alleged that Morlu is unlawfully in possession of the weapon and formally designated him as “armed and dangerous.”
The police warned the public to exercise extreme caution and instructed all Liberia National Police personnel and other law enforcement officers not to approach or confront Morlu alone if encountered.
Instead, officers were directed to immediately notify the appropriate command authority or the nearest police operational center to ensure that any law enforcement action is carried out through a coordinated response and in accordance with established rules of engagement and Liberian law.
The LNP also issued what it described as a final warning, demanding that Morlu immediately surrender the firearm to the nearest police station or any recognized law enforcement authority.
Police cautioned that failure to comply would result in authorities taking “every lawful measure” to recover the weapon and prosecute all individuals found responsible under Liberian law.
The statement further appealed to members of the public with credible information regarding Morlu’s whereabouts or the location of the firearm to report it through the nearest police station or established emergency reporting channels.
Authorities also warned citizens not to attempt to confront or apprehend Morlu themselves.
The LNP maintained that its actions are intended to protect public safety while upholding the constitutional rights of all citizens, emphasizing that anyone found unlawfully possessing firearms or engaging in violence would be held accountable.
The police declaration follows earlier allegations by Inspector General Gregory Coleman that a police officer traveling to his assigned duty station before Friday’s demonstration was assaulted and relieved of his government-issued service weapon.
According to Coleman, investigators later identified the firearm displayed publicly during the protest as the same weapon allegedly stolen from the officer and alleged that Morlu was in possession of it.
The latest development significantly raises the stakes in the ongoing confrontation between the Boakai administration and STAND, whose leaders have accused the government of attempting to intimidate peaceful protesters through what they describe as politically motivated allegations.
Prior to Friday’s demonstration, STAND organizers rejected government claims that protesters intended to use violence or weapons, insisting that the march was a peaceful demand for accountability and an independent investigation into the alleged US$19 million cocaine trafficking case, which they claim implicates powerful individuals within the government.
As of publication, Morlu had not publicly responded to the Liberia National Police’s decision to declare him “armed and dangerous” or to its demand that he surrender the alleged government-issued firearm.
