Kinjor protest report forwarded to MoJ

The deadly protest is said to have killed at least three persons and destroyed several properties in Grand Cape Mount County, where Bea Mountain has been mining gold for years.

By Lincoln G. Peters 

Monrovia, April 15, 2024: The Liberia National Police (LNP) says it has completed its investigation and forwarded the deadly protest report from Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County, to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

Approximately three persons died in the protest, several others were injured, and properties were destroyed. 

Police Inspector General Col. Gregory O. W. Coleman addressed a major press conference over the weekend in Monrovia after forwarding the report to the MoJ.

The Justice Ministry is expected to review the report before further action is taken by the authorities.

“The LNP has completed its Investigation into the protest of Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County, that led to the death of three of our citizens and injuries of several,” said Col. Coleman. 

“The report has been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice. We recommended in the report that the Ministry of Justice forward the report for further probe,” IGP Coleman continued.

The bloody protest in Tawore District early Thursday morning, 29 February 2024, was one of many brutal incidents between residents and Bea Mountain mining company as dissents grew among residents in the company’s host community.

Coleman suggested that the Civilian Oversight Complaint Board, which has oversight over the LNP, validate the level of accountability and independence in the report. 

The top law enforcement official continued that the body is intended to conduct a second review before the report is released to the public. 

He stated that the Civilian Oversight Complaint Board comprises the Barack Associate, the Association of Law Enforcement Professionals, the Federation of Liberia Youth, and the Independent Human Rights Commission, among others. 

The Police IGP detailed that the investigation conducted is in two phases, including criminal investigation and the shooting or discharge of live bullets that led to the death of three persons. 

IGP Coleman stated that they are more concerned about the shooting incident because it led to the death and injuries of others.

“We are doing this second review by an independent body … to prove accountability because anyone could say that we are a party and they can’t trust our Investigation,” said Col. Coleman.