At-risk or disadvantaged youths are protesting in Paynesville, government’s attention to their plight.
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Paynesville, Liberia; August 22, 2025 – Hundreds of disadvantaged youth, commonly referred to here as zogoes, protest in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, demanding urgent government intervention to address drug addiction and support their rehabilitation.
The protest began in King Gray community, a known drug hotspot, and proceeded to the Samuel K. Doe (SKD) Sports Complex in Paynesvile.
The protesters, many of whom are victims of substance abuse, poverty, and social neglect, chanted slogans such as “No more drugs”, carrying placards with desperate appeals for help. Some placards read, “We’re dying from drugs. I am a victim, too. Government, please intervene. Rehabilitation is a must.”
Their demonstration came amid growing frustration over the government’s unfulfilled promises to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society.
One protester lamented: “We are tired of drugs. We voted for these people, and they promised to rehabilitate us and reunite us with our families. But the only results we get from them is to beat on us and take us to jail.”
The protest followed a recent raid by the Liberia National Police (LNP) Support Unit at the King Gray Graveyard. During the operation, dozens of zogoes and suspected drug dealers were arrested. Shockingly, police and some unidentified individuals were seen forcibly cutting the hair of both male and female detainees. The motive behind this act remains unclear, but has drawn public outrage.
In response to the protest, a representative from the Ministry of Youth and Sports addressed the demonstrators, acknowledging the severity of the drug crisis across the country, revealing that over 100,000 young people in Liberia are affected by drug addiction.
“This is the time to come to your side. The issue of drugs is affecting every fabric of the nation,” the official said.
“At the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we inherited a work plan that recognizes this crisis. We are committed to implementing it and reaching out to victims, who are willing to be rehabilitated”, he assured.
The protest also occurs in the broader context of escalating national efforts to combat drug abuse. Recently, residents of Saye Town and 12th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia took matters into their own hands by destroying local ghettos and chasing away alleged drug users with sticks and other objects.
The Liberian government, while acknowledging the spirit behind these actions, has urged community members to coordinate lawfully with the Joint Security of Liberia to avoid human rights abuses.
This growing public momentum against drug abuse follows the “Say No to Drugs” campaign march on August 7, 2025, when hundreds gathered at the Capitol Building and demanded swift government action. The very next day, President Joseph Boakai unveiled a new set of anti-drug policies, urging citizens to report drug-related activities directly to the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
The protest by zogoes in Paynesville signals a powerful shift that Liberia’s most vulnerable youth are now taking a public stand, not only against drugs but for their own rehabilitation and dignity.
Their plea is clear: Liberia’s fight against drugs must include, not ignore, victims. Structured rehabilitation, humane policing, and long-term social support will be essential if the nation is to break the cycle of addiction, poverty, and marginalization. Editing by Jonathan Browne
