By 
With tensions at a boiling point following a massive anti-government protest, a dramatic standoff has erupted between the Liberia National Police (LNP) and opposition leader Mulbah Morlu, who has defiantly rejected state accusations that he is in possession of a stolen police firearm.
By Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia –The atmosphere in Monrovia has shifted from mass demonstration to a high-stakes manhunt, as the Liberia National Police officially declared Mr. Mulbah Morlu, Chairman of the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), “armed and dangerous” today .
In a press release issued on the afternoon of the protest, the LNP cited “credible intelligence” indicating that a firearm seized from a police officer during today’s public demonstration was intended for unlawful purposes and is now in the possession of Mr. Morlu . The police have issued an immediate ultimatum: surrender the weapon to the nearest station or face “every lawful measure” to recover it .
“CITIZENS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED NOT TO APPROACH OR ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND HIM,” the LNP warned, urging the public to report his whereabouts but to exercise extreme caution .
A Defiant Response
In a sharp and dramatic rebuttal, Mr. Morlu responded directly to the allegations, framing them as a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent and deflect from the government’s handling of the protest and a broader drug crisis.
“But I want to make it clear: I am not afraid of you. I’m not scared,” Morlu stated directly to Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, according to a statement released by his camp. He questioned the plausibility of the accusation, asking, “Do I look like someone who has a gun for you?” .
Morlu accused the police of being the aggressors during the day’s demonstrations, alleging they had “sent people to attack and kill protesters.” He suggested that the government’s panic stems from his role in exposing a “dangerous situation” and his belief that Coleman is the “mastermind” behind a plot to cover up a drug crisis .
“You think that by killing more people, you will stop this drug crisis. It will not,” he declared .
The Context of Chaos
The standoff caps a day of immense political tension. STAND had organized a major “Lead or Leave” protest against President Joseph Boakai’s administration, citing grievances over economic hardship and governance failures .
In the lead-up to the demonstration, the LNP, led by IG Coleman, had implemented strict security measures, declaring the Executive Mansion a “no-go zone” . Authorities also claimed to have uncovered plots to use violence, citing the interception of petrol bombs and the identification of a suspect in an illegal firearms distribution scheme . These allegations were consistently dismissed by Morlu as “baseless” and part of a “coordinated disinformation campaign” to intimidate protesters .
As night falls on Monrovia, the standoff between the state and the protest leader represents one of the most severe flashpoints in Liberian politics since President Boakai took office, with the international community now watching closely to see how the situation is resolved.
