SACLEPEA – Police in Saclepea, Nimba County, have arrested a 56-year-old grandmother in connection with the killing of her three young grandchildren in Mehnla Town, District 9.
By D. Franklin Doloquee
The suspect, identified as Mary Giah, was taken into custody following what authorities described as a tense preliminary investigation into the incident, which occurred early Sunday morning in the rural farming community.
According to police sources, the victims — believed to be her daughter’s children — were between the ages of four and eight. They were discovered inside their family’s thatched-roof home with multiple stab wounds allegedly inflicted with a knife and razor blade.
Investigators say Giah admitted to the killings during questioning. Police disclosed that the suspect claimed her actions were influenced by ongoing accusations of witchcraft leveled against her by her daughter’s boyfriend.
“She told investigators that she acted after repeated claims that she was a witch,” a police source said, noting that family tensions had reportedly been escalating in the days leading up to the tragedy.
The boyfriend, whose identity has not been released, has been questioned by authorities but has not been charged as investigations continue.
In many rural communities across Liberia, allegations of witchcraft can inflame longstanding tensions and sometimes trigger acts of violence despite ongoing public awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging harmful traditional accusations.
Mehnla Town, located approximately 20 kilometers from Saclepea, has been left in shock. Residents described Giah as a quiet widow who sold vegetables in the local market and had been known to care for the children.
Nimba County Police spokesperson Officer James Toe confirmed the arrest and said the suspect is currently being held at the Saclepea detention center.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Toe stated. “We are interviewing family members and examining the scene as part of efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Further details will be released as they become available.”
Authorities say the case will be forwarded to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
