Secretary General of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson Tamba Koijee, has issued a scathing critique of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and its leadership, accusing Inspector General Gregory O.W. Coleman of fostering a culture of abuse, humiliation, and impunity—particularly against women.
Koijee’s remarks come in the wake of national outrage surrounding the violent and humiliating treatment of Madam Zainab Bah, a Muslim woman who was allegedly assaulted and stripped of her hijab by a police officer following unproven accusations of electricity theft. The incident, caught on video and widely shared across social media, has drawn fierce criticism from civil society groups, religious leaders, and political figures alike.
In a strongly worded statement, Koijee described the LNP’s official response to the incident as “a flimsy, calculated cover-up,” accusing the police of attempting to deflect accountability after public outcry had already exposed the brutality.
“The so-called press statement issued by the Liberia National Police regarding the disturbing abuse of Madam Zainab Bah is nothing but an insult to the intelligence of the Liberian people and to the dignity of the woman who was assaulted while carrying her child,” Koijee said.
The CDC Secretary General made it clear that he does not view the incident as an isolated act by a rogue officer but rather as symptomatic of a deeper leadership failure at the helm of the police force. He pointed directly at Inspector General Coleman, calling his tenure a period marked by “careless policing” and repeated abuses against vulnerable citizens.
Koijee further accused Coleman of setting a harmful precedent for his officers by engaging in public shaming tactics himself. “Just weeks ago, Gregory Coleman paraded a woman on social media, verbally degrading her in front of the nation,” he said, referencing a separate incident involving public humiliation. “Now another woman is brutalized—this time in front of her child—and we’re told an ‘investigation’ will fix this?”
He dismissed the promise of an internal investigation as inadequate, arguing that no inquiry can undo the trauma and public disgrace inflicted on Madam Bah. Instead, he called for immediate action—starting with the removal of Coleman from office.
“Gregory Coleman has lost every shred of moral authority to lead,” Koijee asserted. “He must be dismissed—not before he does his worst, which the nation will surely regret. Anything short of that is a continued endorsement of violence, humiliation, and impunity.”
The incident has reignited a broader conversation about police misconduct in Liberia and the urgent need for structural reforms within the security sector. Civil society organizations have echoed Koijee’s concerns, demanding not just justice for Zainab Bah, but a nationwide overhaul of police training, conduct, and accountability mechanisms.
The LNP, under increasing pressure, has yet to name the officer involved in the incident or outline any specific disciplinary measures taken. Public confidence in the force appears to be deteriorating as more voices join the call for leadership changes and justice for victims of police brutality.
As the controversy continues to unfold, political analysts say the government’s handling of the case will be closely watched as a test of its commitment to human rights, gender equality, and the rule of law. For now, the pressure is mounting—and calls for Inspector General Coleman’s resignation are growing louder by the day.
