In a disturbing escalation of tensions between traditional authorities and the press, the General Cultural Coordinator of Nimba County, Melvin Gbeilah Duo, has been arrested and jailed following allegations that he orchestrated the abduction and attempted forced initiation of journalist Alex Yormie over a report on the suspension of traditional societies.
Duo spent his first night behind bars in police detention in Saniquellie on Tuesday after authorities linked him to a violent incident involving Yormie, a Dan-language announcer with Radio Lar-wehyi in Tappita, Lower Nimba. The journalist was reportedly seized, beaten, and transported into the Poro Society bush on June 30, shortly after airing a story on the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ suspension of all Sande and Poro activities until 2026.
According to Yormie, Duo had called him the same day the report aired, demanding he appear at his residence to answer questions about what Duo deemed a “defamatory broadcast”. Yormie declined, citing Duo’s hostile tone. Later that evening, he was ambushed by unidentified men, beaten, and forced into a pickup truck that transported him to Yriah Town, a known Poro Society stronghold.
Yormie recounted being presented for forced initiation, but the local Bush Master refused, citing the ministry’s official suspension of society activities. He was later taken to another location, where he briefly escaped into the forest, only to be recaptured.
His release was eventually secured through high-level interventions from the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Nimba County authorities, civil society actors, and officers of the Liberia National Police.
The arrest of Duo followed swift condemnation and pressure from human rights defenders and Minister of Internal Affairs Francis Nyumalin, who publicly distanced himself from attempts to resolve the case out of court. Sources say Duo’s family has been lobbying for a private settlement, but Minister Nyumalin firmly stated that “his hands are not inside”, signaling no support for such a move.
During preliminary police interviews, Duo admitted Yormie had been taken to the Poro Society bush but denied that he was assaulted. He said the journalist’s family and traditional elders had been summoned to determine if Yormie was a member of the sacred society and why he chose to “expose its secrets.”
However, upon release, Yormie was visibly bruised and in poor condition, countering Duo’s claims and strengthening allegations of physical abuse and human rights violations.
The incident has since sparked outrage and national debate, with press freedom advocates warning against increasing threats to journalists, especially in rural areas where traditional institutions still wield significant influence.
“This is not just an attack on one journalist. It is an attack on press freedom, human rights, and the rule of law,” said a statement from the Press Union of Liberia.
Melvin Duo is expected to appear in court in the coming days, where charges could range from kidnapping and assault to conspiracy to commit torture and abuse of power.
As public attention intensifies, many are now calling on the Liberian government to draw a clear line between traditional practices and constitutional rights, particularly in matters involving freedom of expression, bodily autonomy, and the safety of journalists.
