Justice Ministry Insists Stringent Measures to Curb Mob Violence

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: The Ministry of Justice has raised a serious concern over the alarming rise in mob violence across Liberia, warning that the trend has escalated into a national crisis that demands immediate action. 

The Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice, Atty. Siafa Bahn Kemokai, called for a coordinated national response, urging sustained public awareness campaigns across all counties to educate communities on the dangers of mob justice. 

He described the act as one of the most dangerous threats to public order, noting its deadly toll on innocent citizens and its corrosive impact on the country’s legal system.

Speaking on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinion, Atty. Kemokai emphasized that many victims of mob violence are not criminals but individuals wrongly suspected based on fear, rumors, or misinformation.

“Sometimes those who we called victims are family members; they can sometimes just be walking through and fall prey to mob violence,” he said, highlighting the tragic randomness of such attacks.

He further explained that many victims are merely passing through or temporarily resting in communities outside their residence due to hardship or personal discomfort, making them particularly vulnerable.

“Most of these people can be a missed target,” he added, underscoring the high rate of mistaken identity in mob-related killings.

The Justice Ministry official described the trend as deeply troubling, warning that mob violence strips individuals of their constitutional right to a fair hearing and denies families the opportunity to seek justice through lawful channels. 

He pointed out that the widespread tolerance of mob action reflects a dangerous erosion of trust in law enforcement and judicial institutions, threatening Liberia’s rule of law.

He stressed that any suspected wrongdoing must be addressed by law enforcement agencies, insisting that violence can never replace the law and that due process remains the only path to justice