A controversial incident on Thursday has ignited public outrage in Monrovia after officers of the Monrovia City Police stopped a funeral procession and forcibly opened a casket at a security checkpoint, citing protest-related threats. The act, carried out near the University of Liberia campus on Capitol Hill, has left a grieving family devastated and sparked broader concerns about civil rights violations under heightened security protocols.
The deceased was being transported for burial when the hearse was halted by officers enforcing security measures tied to the ongoing “Enough is Enough” protest, organized by Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) and other groups. Despite the family presenting all required documentation, including a death certificate, officers insisted on opening the casket, claiming suspicion of possible weapons smuggling.
“We’re heartbroken. We showed them everything, but they still opened our father’s casket right there in public,” said a family member, fighting back tears. The scene reportedly unfolded in full view of onlookers, drawing immediate backlash for what many have described as a deeply disrespectful and culturally offensive action.
City police defended the move, stating that they were acting on “intelligence reports” warning of potential smuggling of weapons into the capital under cover of ordinary transport. “We couldn’t take chances. It could have been a weapon cache,” one officer said.
The timing of the incident coincides with increased government clampdowns ahead of today’s protest, which has drawn hundreds under the banner of social justice. Demonstrators accuse the Boakai-Koung administration of failing to address worsening poverty, insecurity, and what they describe as a growing culture of political arrogance.
Riot police have begun test deployments around Capitol Hill, including rehearsals involving water cannons and crowd dispersal tactics near major government buildings, signaling the administration’s preparations for a potential escalation.
With protesters demanding that President Joseph Boakai personally receive their petition, tensions remain high. The casket incident has now become a flashpoint in a broader conversation about how far the state is willing to go under the pretext of national security, raising fresh fears of excessive force, public humiliation, and disregard for cultural and human dignity.
