Monrovia — Nearly a year after the brutal killing of Monyoungor Keleko in Duogomai Town, members of her family say justice in court has not translated into safety, as reported threats and lingering fear now shape their daily lives.
Keleko, 45, was found dead on December 31, 2024, along a farm road in Duogomai Town, Lofa County. The killing sparked widespread community outrage that pressured authorities to act. Following an investigation, the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Voinjama returned guilty verdicts against three men: Aaron Kollie, 52, and Emmanuel Flomo, 52, who were each sentenced to life imprisonment, and Lamine Flomo, 24, who received a five‑year prison sentence. The convictions followed a trial on charges including murder, criminal conspiracy, and felonious restraint, according to court records.
Controversy and Unresolved Questions
Despite the convictions, the investigation was overshadowed by controversy. On January 6, 2025, 19‑year‑old Yarkpawolo Moisema, identified by police as a principal suspect, died while in custody at the Voinjama Police Depot. Authorities initially reported that Moisema died by suicide. However, an autopsy conducted in March 2025, later ruled his death “unnatural,†prompting the Ministry of Justice to announce a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Moisema’s death intensified public distrust. Some residents alleged that he had been preparing to provide a full confession prior to his death, though no official confirmation has been presented. At the same time, unverified claims circulated linking the case to the then Acting Immigration Commissioner General Elijah F. Rufus. Rufus publicly denied any involvement, describing the allegations as “far‑fetched†and distancing himself from the events in Duogomai Town, as reported by FrontPage Africa and other outlets.
The controversy drew national attention. Representative Gizzie Kollince of Lofa County formally communicated with the House of Representatives, calling for transparency and accountability from the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Police regarding Moisema’s death and the unresolved disappearance of another resident in Konia Town, Lofa County.
In response to heightened tension, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, alongside Lofa County Superintendent J. Laveleh Massaquoi and Representative Kollince, conducted a follow‑up visit to Duogomai Town on January 9, 2025. The delegation sought to calm residents, reaffirm the government’s commitment to investigating Moisema’s death, and encourage community cooperation with authorities, according to Ministry of Internal Affairs statements.
Unease Since the Verdict and Sentencing
As the first anniversary of Monyoungor Keleko’s killing approaches, unease has resurfaced within her family. Sources close to the family report that warnings and rumors have circulated in parts of the community, suggesting that individuals perceived to have played key roles in securing the convictions could face retaliation.
Among those mentioned is Ericson Kolia Keleko, known to his family as Kolia. Relatives say he has deliberately maintained a low profile and that his reluctance to speak publicly reflects caution rather than denial of risk. Ericson traveled from Monrovia to Lofa County in April and May 2025 — his first visit since March 2013 — to quietly visit family and follow developments related to the case.
When contacted, Ericson described repeated threats received through unknown or private phone numbers, but he hadn’t seen it to be anything to be scared about. He said callers sometimes posed as relatives checking on his wellbeing, while others issued direct warnings. Since he hardly answered calls from unfamiliar numbers, the calls shifted to his sister. One such call, he said, occurred on October 7, 2025, during which his sister was insulted and threatened.
“I initially dismissed the warnings as emotional reactions from relatives of the convicted men, believing they would eventually accept the verdicts. However, the persistence of such activities in October, combined with information shared by family sources and now an inquiry from a media outlet as FPA, I must reassess the seriousness of the situation.â€
According to Ericson, a caller posing as a relative questioned him about his trip to Lofa County after more than a decade, telling him if he went there regarding the case, he should know some things will “not go unanswered.†Other warnings, he said, invoked traditional practices intended to harm or render him useless. He linked the threats to a broader family history, noting that his mother died under similarly mysterious circumstances in Lofa County in February 2013, a case that was never resolved and which partly motivated his determination to lend his support to his cousin’s case.
For similar reasons, Ericson said he relocated his elder sister from Konia, Lofa County, to Montserrado County more than two years ago. Although he has not formally reported the threats to the Liberia National Police, he said he has simply continued to exercise caution and take precautionary measures informed by advice, limiting social activities and avoiding predictable routines. He added that he was clearly warned Monrovia should not be assumed to be a guaranteed safe haven, a concern echoed by family members still residing in Lofa County.
Reflecting on the emotional toll, Ericson said the situation has affected every aspect of his life especially since he had chosen to remain silent about it given his dislike for public attention, especially on such matters. While he feels relatively safe at work, he described what would be termed as constant stress outside familiar environments, saying he has withdrawn socially and now views unfamiliar people as potential threats, particularly extended relatives.
Our source emphasized that the reported warnings must be taken seriously, particularly in light of Liberia’s history of unresolved violent deaths and quiet retaliatory acts. The source believes that he and other family members who supported the pursuit of justice must continue to exercise caution.
A Pattern Beyond Lofa
The unease surrounding the Keleko case mirrors broader national concerns over unexplained deaths and unresolved violence. In Maryland County between May and June 2025, two men — George K. Nah, 26, and Daniel D. Charlie, 64 — were found dead in Manolu Town within days of each other, prompting police investigations amid public concern. In Ganta, Nimba County, 45‑year‑old Papie Darlor was found dead on April 8, 2025, with ropes tied around his body, one of several incidents that alarmed residents.
In Monrovia in late 2024, the death of Anwar Futloo drew scrutiny after journalists covering the case were questioned by police, raising press freedom concerns. Earlier, in October 2020, four senior government auditors — Emmanuel Barten Nyeswua, Albert Peters, Gifty Lama, and George F. Fanbutu — died under suspicious circumstances within a single week, a case that remains unresolved.
Additionally, data from the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) shows multiple mob killings in Lofa County in 2024, with no arrests reported.
Presidential Directive and Public Expectation
At the first Cabinet meeting of 2025 on March 3, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai ordered a comprehensive investigation into unresolved cases of mysterious deaths and disappearances across the country, stressing that no such case should be ignored. The directive placed renewed scrutiny on law enforcement and justice institutions, according to statements from the Executive Mansion.
Echoing the President’s call, renowned human rights lawyer and criminal law professor Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe warned that unresolved deaths pose a direct threat to public trust and national stability. Speaking publicly days later, Gongloe urged the government to move beyond declarations and ensure thorough, independent investigations into all suspicious deaths, cautioning that selective or delayed action would deepen fear and impunity, as reported.
Justice Without Peace
While no secret society has been formally or directly linked to the Keleko case, belief in clandestine groups influencing violence and retaliation remains widespread in many Liberian communities. These perceptions, shaped by history, rumor, and unresolved cases, continue to influence how threats and unexplained deaths are understood.
For the Keleko family, the court’s verdicts delivered accountability but not peace. The case reflects a broader reality confronting many Liberians: justice secured through the courts does not always guarantee peace and safety afterward. As warnings persist and questions remain unanswered, Ericson Kolia Keleko and family continue to live cautiously, aware that fear often lingers long after judgments are handed down.
