By Sampat JMB Kpakimah
DOE COMMUNITY, Montserrado County – The Ministry of Justice has continued its community-based awareness campaign against mob violence, bringing the message to Doe Community, one of Monrovia’s most densely populated neighborhoods. The event, held Saturday at the Doe Community Clinic, is part of an ongoing initiative by Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald Tweh to counter a rising tide of mob violence across the country.
The program attracted a large cross-section of residents, including youth, women, children, and the elderly. The government urged residents to reject extrajudicial attacks and trust the rule of law.
Speaking as the main presenter, Assistant Minister of Justice for Administration Siapha Kamukai warned that mob violence is a serious violation of Liberian law, and that perpetrators will face prosecution.
“Taking justice into your own hands is not only illegal—it destroys families and entire communities,” Kamukai said. “Delays in the justice system do not give anyone the right to become judge, jury, and executioner.”
Kamukai cited recent incidents to illustrate the danger of vigilante action, including the assault of an elderly woman in Chocolate City over unproven witchcraft allegations, and the beating and public humiliation of a woman at Red Light Market who was later proven innocent of theft accusations.
He noted that rumors frequently trigger mob attacks, with individuals reacting without evidence. Citizens were urged to report cases to the police and provide evidence to support investigations. Kamukai added that complaints about police inaction can be directed to the Ministry of Justice for intervention. The Assistant Minister stressed that mob violence transcends political affiliations and that the loss of life affects all of society.
He described the Ministry of Justice as an institution committed to upholding the law without bias.
The Ministry acknowledged support from partners including UNDP Liberia and the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and praised the Community Empowerment Initiative Organization (CEIO) for its role in selecting Doe Community for the awareness campaign.
Earlier, CEIO Chairman Mohammed Dukuly explained that Doe Community was chosen due to its dense population and large number of young people. Dukuly, a former resident of the area, said statistics show the community has recorded high levels of violence, making it a priority for such interventions.
“Grassroots engagement is the only way to change behavior,” Dukuly said.
Co-Chair of the Elders Council Patrick Gaddeh commended residents for turning out in large numbers despite short notice. He urged them to take the awareness message back to their homes and serve as ambassadors against mob violence.
Gaddeh noted that community elders remain committed to resolving disputes locally, while cases beyond their capacity are referred to the police.
He called on the Ministry of Justice to strengthen collaboration with community leaders across Montserrado’s 17 districts, saying elders and youth are best positioned to monitor and respond to emerging issues. The event concluded with residents pledging to report suspected crimes to authorities rather than resorting to violence. The Ministry of Justice has indicated that similar campaigns will continue in other high-risk communities in the coming weeks.
