MONROVIA – The Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) is deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic and violent death of 29-year-old Kadiatu Dioh, a young mother who reportedly endured years of domestic abuse before succumbing to injuries sustained during a brutal assault allegedly perpetrated by her husband, Papie Lema Dioh, and another woman believed to be his girlfriend.
According to credible reports and eyewitness testimonies, Kadiatu was attacked in Johnsonville Township and sustained critical head injuries after being struck with a 2×2 wooden plank. She was rushed to the JFK Medical Center, where she later died from internal brain bleeding.
Despite multiple accounts and witness reports, there has been a deeply concerning delay in police investigation and official action.
WONGOSOL condemns this heinous act of gender-based violence in the strongest terms and calls for immediate and transparent legal action.
“Kadiatu’s case is not an isolated incident, it is a grim reflection of the daily reality faced by many Liberian women in abusive relationships, often with limited legal protection and inadequate societal support,” said Madam Esther S. D. Yango, Executive Director of WONGOSOL.
Family members, particularly her sister Hawa Abigail Neewon, have come forward to recount the sustained abuse Kadiatu endured throughout her marriage. Despite previous court interventions and family efforts, the violence reportedly persisted and escalated, ultimately leading to her death.
The family has also expressed serious concerns over the Liberia National Police’s (LNP) lack of urgency and transparency, particularly following a troubling suggestion that the family should proceed with the burial while the investigation remains unresolved.
WONGOSOL therefore urgently calls on the Liberia National Police, the Ministry of Justice, and the JFK Medical Center to:
- Immediately release the official autopsy and death report to the family;
- Launch a full, transparent, and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Kadiatu’s death;
- Ensure the arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the alleged assault;
Provide protection and psychosocial support to Kadiatu’s surviving child and immediate family; - Reaffirm Liberia’s commitment to ending gender-based violence and safeguarding the rights and dignity of women and girls.
We also call upon human rights institutions, civil society organizations, the international community, and the general public to stand in unwavering solidarity with Kadiatu’s family. Her life must be honored with justice. Her death must not be buried in silence.
“Kadiatu Dioh’s life mattered. Her voice has been silenced, but ours will not be,” Executive Director Madam Esther S. D. Yango stressed.
About WONGOSOL
The Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) is a leading umbrella organization that coordinates, advocates, and amplifies the voices of women’s rights organizations across Liberia. Established in 1998, WONGOSOL works to promote gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social justice by influencing policy, strengthening grassroots initiatives, and ensuring women’s active participation in peacebuilding, governance, and national development.
