The Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has issued an urgent call to the Liberia National Police (LNP) to accelerate investigations and make immediate arrests in the brutal killing of Kadiatu Dioh, a 29-year-old mother who succumbed to injuries from a domestic violence attack. The organization expressed grave concerns over perceived delays in police action following the incident recentlyin Johnsonville Township, where Dioh was reportedly beaten with a wooden plank by her husband, Papie Lema Dioh, and another woman believed to be his girlfriend.
WONGOSOL Executive Director Madam Esther S. D. Yango emphasized the critical need for law enforcement intervention, stating, “We demand the LNP promptly arrest all suspects and conduct a thorough, transparent investigation into this heinous crime.” The victim, who suffered severe head trauma, died from internal brain bleeding at JFK Medical Center despite emergency treatment, with family members revealing she had endured prolonged domestic abuse throughout her marriage.
The women’s rights coalition highlighted disturbing reports that police investigators suggested the family proceed with burial arrangements while the case remained unresolved – a recommendation WONGOSOL condemned as premature and potentially compromising to justice efforts. Family spokesperson Hawa Abigail Neewon disclosed that despite previous court interventions and repeated reports of abuse, protective measures failed to prevent the escalating violence that ultimately claimed Dioh’s life.
WONGOSOL’s demands to authorities include: the immediate release of official autopsy results; guaranteed protection for Dioh’s surviving child and witnesses; comprehensive psychosocial support for the bereaved family; and swift prosecution of all individuals involved in the fatal assault. The organization further called on the Ministry of Justice to monitor the investigation closely, stressing that Liberia’s 2019 Domestic Violence Law must translate into concrete action for victims.
“This case represents both a tragic personal loss and systemic failure,” Yango asserted. “When women report abuse, they must be met with protection rather than bureaucratic delays that enable perpetrators.” The advocacy group noted that Dioh’s death marks another preventable femicide in Liberia, where UN data indicates 40% of women experience intimate partner violence, with few cases reaching prosecution.
As pressure mounts on law enforcement, WONGOSOL has mobilized its network of 132 member organizations to monitor proceedings and ensure accountability. The Secretariat urged media and civil society to maintain spotlight on the case until justice is served, warning that inaction would perpetuate cycles of violence against Liberian women. With public outrage growing, all eyes now turn to the LNP’s response as a critical test of Liberia’s commitment to enforcing its gender-based violence laws.
The Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia, established in 1998, coordinates national advocacy efforts to combat gender-based violence and strengthen women’s rights protections through policy reform and grassroots mobilization.
