Monrovia – The fatal shooting of Matthew Mulbah, a young man reportedly battling mental illness, by officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in Congo Town has triggered mixed public reactions, with some calling it a necessary use of force while others, including CDC Secretary-General Jefferson T. Koijee, have described it as a state-sanctioned killing.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) | [email protected]
According to the LNP, the incident unfolded when a suspect, later identified as Matthew Mulbah, attacked officers with a cutlass.
“The suspect charged with a cutlass, striking and deeply wounding a second officer. The wound was inflicted on his arm when he raised his hand to protect his head from being hit with the cutlass. A third officer intervened and successfully disarmed the suspect of the cutlass. Unaware that the suspect had a concealed knife sealed in his pais, the suspect then stabbed the third officer in his thigh and attempted another cross towards his abdomen. Facing an immediate mortal danger, and in accordance with the LNP’s use-of-force continuum, one of the officers discharged his service weapon, instantly neutralizing the threat and preventing further harm to his colleagues,” said Col. Gregory Coleman, Inspector General of the Liberia National Police hours after the incident.
The LNP maintains that the officer’s use of a firearm was a necessary action to protect lives, asserting that the suspect’s violent attack left them no alternative.
However, eyewitnesses and opposition voices have painted a contrasting picture of the events. Jefferson Koijee, Secretary-General of the Coalition for Democratic Change, told FrontPage Africa that the suspect may have been mentally unstable due to cerebral malaria.
“We tried to get him to the hospital but he refused, saying he didn’t want to leave his room. Police were later called and tried to forcibly enter his room. It became violent, and three officers deliberately overpowered him. He was shot multiple times in the stomach in his own room and dragged outside naked,” Koijee alleged.
Officers Faced “Mortal Danger”
In a live video podcast, Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman defended the actions of the officers involved, stating that they acted within the LNP’s use-of-force continuum after being met with “imminent mortal danger.”
According to IG Coleman, the police received a distress call on October 8, 2025, at 14:55 reporting that officers had been stabbed near the old Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) in Congo Town.
“The suspect charged with a cutlass, striking and deeply wounding a second officer. The wound was inflicted on his arm when he raised his hand to protect his head,” Coleman explained.
He added that while one officer successfully disarmed Mulbah of the cutlass, the suspect allegedly had a concealed knife in his trousers, which he used to stab a third officer in the thigh and attempted to lunge at his abdomen.
“Facing an immediate mortal danger… one of the officers discharged his service weapon, instantly neutralizing the threat and preventing further harm to his colleagues,” IG Coleman said.
At one end, Inspector General of Police led a team of police in candlelight Vigil at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, where some of their officers undergoing treatment.
In a message “A Light Still Burning” IG Coleman said, “Tonight, beneath the soft glow of our candles, we gather not in mourning, but in hope — hope for one of our own, a brave officer who answered a call for help and now fights for his life in the Intensive Care Unit.”
According to IG Coleman, the did what every good officer does. “He ran toward the danger so others could be safe.”
“As we hold these candles, we are not only lighting the night — we are sending strength, prayers, and love his way. Each flame represents a heart that refuses to give up on him. Each light whispers: you are not alone,” he said.
IG Coleman added: “To his family, know that the Liberia National Police stands beside you. To his colleagues, let this moment remind us of why we wear this uniform — to serve with honor, even when it costs us everything.”
Koijee Fires Back: “A State-Sanctioned Murder”
But Jefferson T. Koijee, in a sharply worded statement, accused Coleman of spreading falsehoods and presiding over a pattern of extrajudicial killings.
“This was not an accident or isolated misconduct. It was a sanctioned execution under the authority of the Liberia National Police,” Koijee said.
He cited an eyewitness account suggesting Mulbah had become mentally unstable, possibly due to cerebral malaria, and had resisted attempts by friends to take him to a hospital. Police were later called in, and according to the witness, Mulbah was shot multiple times in the stomach inside his room and dragged outside naked.
“This chilling account paints a very different picture from the false narrative being peddled by Gregory Coleman,” Koijee added, revealing that Mulbah’s family is preparing a formal rebuttal.
‘A Pattern of Abuse’
Koijee went on to catalogue several prior incidents under Coleman’s leadership, which he believes indicate a pattern of police-sanctioned killings.
“These are not isolated tragedies. They are the bitter fruits of a corrupt and violent system that Gregory Coleman has cultivated,” Koijee said.
He further alleged that known criminals, including Johnny Dean (ID #0168) — a man previously dismissed for armed robbery — now serves as Chief of the Criminal Investigation Division, Unit 106.
“The police have become a gang of criminals, not a force for safety,” Koijee charged.
Eyewitness, Journalist Share Perspective
Adding to the complex narrative, Liberian journalist Abu Sherif took to Facebook, calling Mulbah a close friend, describing him as a “gentle giant” who had recently shown signs of serious illness.
“About a week ago, I was informed that Matthew had fallen ill and his behavior had become strange—possibly cerebral malaria,” Sherif wrote. “Friends pooled resources to help him get treatment, but he became violent. In the process of trying to disarm him, officers were reportedly stabbed. In the chaos, they shot him in the stomach.”
Sherif criticized the police for a lack of professionalism, saying the situation could have been handled differently, though he acknowledged that officers were injured in the altercation.
Public Reaction and Calls for Independent Probe
As outrage simmers across social media platforms, civil society actors and political commentators are calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mulbah’s death.
“Until this corrupt leadership is purged and the police are cleansed of their criminal elements, peace and justice will remain illusions,” Koijee concluded.
Despite repeated requests for further comment, the Liberia National Police has not provided additional information beyond IG Coleman’s initial statement.
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