–LNP Cites Multiple Eyewitness Accounts and Victim Statements Following December 17 Monrovia Protest
MONROVIA — The Liberia National Police (LNP) has formally charged and forwarded to court Mulbah K. Morlu, Chairman of the civil society organization STAND, and his deputy, Rev. Festus R. B. Logan, in connection with a series of violent incidents that police say stemmed from the December 17, 2025 protest in central Monrovia.
According to an official charge sheet, the two are accused of Criminal Solicitation, Criminal Conspiracy, Rioting, Failure to Disperse, Disorderly Conduct, and Obstructing Highways and Public Passages, in violation of Sections 10.3, 10.4, 17.1, 17.3, and 17.7 of the Revised Penal Law of Liberia.
Police said the protest—organized under the slogan “Lead or Leave! (Enough is Enough)”—paralyzed major thoroughfares near the University of Liberia, the Capitol Building, and the Executive Mansion. Investigators allege that demonstrators refused repeated police orders to clear roadways while insisting that the President personally receive their petition.
Alleged Role of Protest Leaders
The charge sheet identifies Morlu as the protest’s “ring leader,” alleging that he deliberately sat in the middle of the roadway while Logan and others encircled him, effectively blocking vehicular and pedestrian traffic and triggering public disorder. Police contend that this conduct directly contributed to escalating tensions and impeded law enforcement efforts to restore normal movement.
When officers attempted to disperse the crowd, police say protesters scattered into nearby communities, including Jallah Town, where violence reportedly erupted.
Assaults, Robbery, and Property Damage Alleged
According to multiple victim statements obtained by investigators, individuals linked to the protest vandalized government vehicles, assaulted occupants, and carried out acts of robbery and theft. Among the reported victims were employees of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) and the National Food Assistance Agency (NFAA).
Police records state that FIA employees traveling in a government vehicle were attacked, their windshield smashed, and personal belongings forcibly taken. The stolen items reportedly included mobile phones and sensitive financial documents, as well as government salary and travel checks valued at thousands of U.S. and Liberian dollars.
Two government vehicles—an FIA Renault Logan sedan and an NFAA GM SUV—were severely damaged. Several victims also reported sustaining physical injuries during the attacks.
Eyewitness Accounts and Police Findings
Investigators say eyewitnesses placed Morlu in Jallah Town during the violence, including accounts that he was seen riding a motorbike shortly before a group of protesters descended on government vehicles. Police assert that these statements contradict Morlu’s denial of being present at the scene.
In its findings, the LNP alleges that the actions of the protest leaders and their supporters instilled fear, disrupted public order, injured civilians, damaged public property, and exposed sensitive government financial information to serious security risks.
Case Forwarded to Court
Following what police described as a thorough investigation, Morlu and Logan were formally charged and the case forwarded to court for trial. Authorities say several other suspects connected to the violence remain at large and have been charged in absentia.
The LNP has reiterated its position that while peaceful assembly is protected under the law, actions that result in violence, destruction of property, or harm to civilians will be investigated and prosecuted in keeping with Liberia’s criminal statutes.
