Monrovia – In the wake of the brutal killing of a motorcyclist in Johnsonville, Montserrado County, the Founder and Executive Director of the Kolu Sokodolo Children Foundation (KSCF), Kolu Sokodolo Walters, has condemned the act as “barbaric and inhumane,” calling on Liberians to reject mob violence and uphold the rule of law.
By Obediah Johnson
A disturbing video circulating on social media shows an angry mob, reportedly dominated by motorcyclists, viciously beating a man accused of being a “motorcycle criminal” in the Johnsonville area on Sunday. The victim, whose identity is yet to be confirmed by authorities, was seen being hit with sticks and stones while lying helplessly on the ground. Several motorcycles were also driven over his body, including his head, and another man was captured chopping his feet with a knife.
Details surrounding the accusation remain unclear, raising concerns over the persistence of mob justice and the growing insecurity in many communities across Liberia.
In a dispatch issued from the United States on Monday, Madam Walters said the attack rekindles painful memories of Liberia’s civil wars and warned that such acts threaten peace, stability, and the rule of law.
She expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and urged Liberians to desist from taking the law into their own hands.
“Gone are the days when citizens would take the law into their own hands and walk away with impunity,” Madam Walters said. “What message are we sending to our children when we resort to such gruesome acts? We are raising tomorrow’s leaders—let us teach them the values of peace, tolerance, and justice.”
The humanitarian advocate emphasized that no one deserves to die at the hands of a mob, stressing that violence only perpetuates lawlessness.
“The justice system may not be perfect, but violence is never the answer. We must teach our children the value of due process and peaceful conflict resolution. This is why our foundation is committed to instilling values of empathy, respect, and justice in Liberia’s next generation,” she added.
Madam Walters called on communities to work closely with the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the justice system to resolve disputes rather than resorting to mob justice.
“Stand up for the truth and do the right thing. Stand up for the rights of the poor,” she urged.
She also called on community leaders, religious institutions, and civil society organizations to intensify awareness campaigns and promote community policing and trust-building.
At the same time, she appealed to law enforcement officers to uphold professionalism and ethics to restore public confidence, stressing that mob violence would decline if the police responded more swiftly to crimes and ensured timely prosecution.
Madam Walters further urged the courts to fast-track cases investigated by the police, noting that “justice delayed is justice denied.”
Local authorities in Johnsonville have called for calm as investigations continue into the gruesome murder. No arrests have been made, but the Liberia National Police say they are committed to ensuring the perpetrators face justice.
The Johnsonville incident adds to a growing number of mob-related killings in Liberia, sparking renewed debate over the capacity of law enforcement, public trust in the justice system, and the urgent need for civic education.
Established in August 2016, the Kolu Sokodolo Children Foundation operates in Liberia and Sierra Leone, providing education, food assistance, and housing support to underprivileged communities. On May 4, 2021, the foundation handed over a newly constructed home worth over US$2,000 to Mother Hannah Swen—its third housing project for elderly women in need. The KSCF has also supported several orphanages in Monrovia, Brewerville, and surrounding areas, including the UNICO Orphanage, which caters to children of former UN and ECOWAS peacekeepers.
The foundation currently runs a tuition-free school serving hundreds of less fortunate Liberian children, many of them survivors of the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.
