The Liberia National Police is under increased pressure to bring rape Suspect J. Bryant McGill to book.
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia; September 18, 2025 – A firestorm of outrage is sweeping Liberia, as civil society groups, legal advocates, and ordinary citizens demand swift justice in the case of an alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, J. Bryant McGill, a scandal that has placed Police Inspector General, Gregory Coleman, under intense scrutiny.
After weeks of silence, Col. Coleman finally addressed the public during a press briefing on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, but his statement offered little comfort to an outraged nation.
“While it is true that [the Deputy Minister] has not been arrested, he is undergoing investigation,” Coleman stated, adding that several ministry officials, including deputy ministers, had been called in for questioning.
He further revealed that the Liberia National Police (LNP) had petitioned the court for a subpoena of the accused’s call log, critical for geo-location analysis.
“That call log is a very important part of the investigation because the geo-location analysis will now point to where he was and whether the allegations can be substantiated. We are waiting for this,” Coleman said.
The police chief also announced that DNA sampling has been ordered and that a formal request would be sent to the U.S. Embassy for assistance with foreign DNA testing.
According to him, the police prefer to take time and send a case to court that will lead to successful prosecution, rather than rush with an arrest as people are demanding and then risk letting the suspect walk free.
However, this cautious approach is doing little to stem the growing tide of public anger, especially given that rape is a non-bailable offense under Liberian law.
At the center of the case is a 14-year-old girl, daughter of Christopher Davis, an employee at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. According to reports, she was lured into the Deputy Minister’s office on multiple occasions. She was later found visibly shaken near the Ministry, reportedly disclosing that McGill had “tampered with her.”
A medical examination has reportedly found evidence consistent with sexual assault.
Despite this, McGill remains a free man, having only requested a leave of absence, pending investigation. His request has been forwarded to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
In a bold move, youth-led protestors from the Movement Against Rape and Sexual Gender-Based Violence (MARSGBV) staged a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex. Clad in red and black, they carried placards reading, which denouncing rape in all forms and manners.
This is not just a crime; it is a deep betrayal of trust, dignity, and the very future of the nation’s children,” the group’s petition stated on Tuesday.
No one, regardless of position or power, should ever be allowed to exploit or destroy the innocence of a child. We are calling on the Government of Liberia to immediately dismiss the Minister and ensure that he faces full investigation under the law, the crowd of protesting students stated in their petition, read at SKD.
The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) also issued a scathing rebuke of the handling of the case.
“We are shocked by the failure to arrest Deputy Minister McGill amid such serious allegations,” said Cllr. Philomena Williams, AFELL President.
“Anyone found interfering or attempting to broker a compromise will be held for obstruction of justice.”
The protesters warned of nationwide mass actions if justice is delayed.
“Rape is a crime against humanity. It leaves scars that last a lifetime,” their petition read. “We demand action. We demand accountability. We demand justice for every girl and woman in Liberia. This is not negotiable.”
They also issued a direct appeal to President Boakai:
“Let justice not only serve the rich and powerful; it must also protect the poor and vulnerable.”
It has also been reported the case is currently being investigated by the LNP’s Women and Children Protection Section, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the GBV Division, and the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Crimes Unit. CCTV footage is being reviewed, and a social worker has been assigned to support the survivor.
Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount on the Boakai administration. Rights groups and activists say they will not rest until justice is delivered, not just in this case, but for all survivors of sexual violence in Liberia.
As the nation watches closely, the stakes have never been higher, for the survivor, for the justice system, and for the soul of a country still battling the epidemic of sexual violence. Editing by Jonathan Browne
