Several residents of Sinoe County’s Electoral District #2 are nursing injuries and trauma following an alleged violent incursion by personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). The District’s lawmaker Simpson Wiah has accused the army forces of abandoning their official assignment and turning their weapons on unarmed civilians. Representative Wiah disclosed that the injured citizens—among them elders and young community members—sustained harm while fleeing gunfire and physical intimidation after AFL soldiers reportedly disrupted a sacred traditional initiation ceremony in the district. Speaking Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at a press conference at his Capitol Building Office, the Sinoe County lawmaker said the incident has left the entire communities traumatized, with some victims requiring medical attention after being manhandled or hurt during the chaos that ensued. Gunfire Sparks Injuries, Panic.
According to Rep. Wiah, tensions escalated when AFL personnel allegedly violated long-standing traditional protocols by forcing their way into a sacred area during an initiation rite, prompting panic among residents. He said live ammunition was fired repeatedly near a traditional hut from Sunday evening through Monday morning, causing residents, particularly women, children, and the elderly—to scatter for safety. “In the process of escaping the gunfire, several of our people were injured,” Wiah stated. “This was not an operation against criminals; this was terror unleashed on innocent civilians in their own community.”
The lawmaker described the incident as one marked by fear, confusion, and physical harm, noting that some citizens fell while running, while others were allegedly pushed or assaulted by armed soldiers. Evidence of Excessive Force At the press briefing, Rep. Wiah displayed photographs of dozens of spent shell casings reportedly collected by residents from the scene, which he said serve as physical evidence of excessive force used in a civilian setting. Cultural Violation with Physical Consequences Beyond the injuries, Rep. Wiah stressed that the AFL’s actions constituted a grave violation of the cultural and human rights of the Jedepo people. He said soldiers allegedly disregarded instructions from traditional authorities, including the “devil messenger,” and reacted aggressively when asked to respect sacred boundaries. “The military reportedly took offense at traditional rules simply because those customs inconvenienced their social activities. That arrogance translated into violence, and our people paid the price with their bodies.”
“A national army exists to protect citizens—not to injure them or use firearms to settle personal grievances,” Rep. Wiah added. Apology Falls Short for Injured Victims While acknowledging that Commander Chesson Jawah reportedly admitted wrongdoing and apologized to local elders, Rep. Wiah said apologies do little to address the physical injuries and psychological trauma suffered by victims. “You cannot injure civilians, fire weapons in a residential area, and think an apology heals broken trust or wounded bodies. In a democracy, soldiers cannot shoot first and apologize later.” He warned that such incidents risk eroding public confidence in President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration, particularly among rural populations.
Demands for Justice and Protection On behalf of injured citizens and affected communities, Rep. Wiah is demanding a full investigation and court-martial of the personnel involved, including disciplinary action against Commander Jawah. He also called for the immediate withdrawal of AFL troops from the affected communities and a comprehensive review of military deployments in traditional districts. “Our people are injured, traumatized, and angry. Justice requires accountability, not excuses,” he asserted. Additionally, the lawmaker urged mandatory Civil-Military Relations (CMR) training for all AFL Personnel, with emphasis on respect for traditional governance, cultural protocols, and civilian safety. “The military must never again become a source of injury and fear to the very people it is sworn to protect,” he, among other things, stated.
Author: Alpha Lymas
