What was meant to be a normal Monday morning turned chaotic at the University of Liberia’s Capitol Hill campus, as a group of students launched a violent protest that quickly spilled onto the busy Capital By-Pass, causing mayhem, damaging police property, and leading to multiple arrests.
It all happened on April 28, a day now etched into the week’s headlines. According to the Liberia National Police (LNP), what started as a demonstration quickly degenerated into a violent standoff. Protesters, some reportedly UL students, blocked the main street with burning debris and began hurling stones and glass bottles at responding officers. One marked police vehicle with license plate #RL-307 was left visibly battered.
Now, the LNP has taken decisive action. Eight individuals have been formally charged and forwarded to court. They include Daniel S., Deema, Kalifa Kanneh, Archi Sougha, Frank D. Jackson, Christopher Dugbe, Isaac William, and Musa A. Kermokai. Their alleged crimes? A long list that paints a picture of serious unrest, from criminal conspiracy to obstructing public highways, disorderly conduct, and rioting.
The LNP’s charge sheet references several provisions of Liberia’s Revised Penal Law, including Chapter 10 on Criminal Attempt and Conspiracy, Chapter 14 on Offenses Against the Person, Chapter 15 on Offenses Against Property, and Chapter 17 on Offenses Against Public Order.
Speaking through a press release issued today, police spokesperson Cecelia G. Clarke stressed that investigations are ongoing and more arrests could follow. “Efforts are ongoing to identify additional suspects, who will face charges once identified,” the release stated. The police also called on the public to “respect the rule of law and address grievances through peaceful dialogue.”
But behind the official charges and legal jargon are bigger questions about what drove these young people to the streets in the first place, and why frustration among students at the University of Liberia continues to boil over.
While the specific motive for the April 28 protest has not been publicly disclosed by the police, campus tensions over issues like tuition, registration delays, or broader dissatisfaction with the system have often been flashpoints in the past. Monday’s violence is a stark reminder that beneath the surface of routine student life lies a volatile mix of youthful energy and social frustration.
As the legal process unfolds, many will be watching, not just for justice, but for answers, reforms, and perhaps a better way forward.
