COW FARM, Bong County – Under the towering trees of Cow Farm in Panta District, a frail 12-year-old girl walks barefoot across the farmland, her hands rough from years of labor, her eyes reflecting a grief far beyond her years. While other children her age sit in classrooms learning to read and write, she toils on a farm, fighting for survival—an existence thrust upon her by a tragedy so gruesome it still haunts the community.
In June 2017, the girl’s mother, Doris Nyah, was violently killed by her husband, Moses Porkpah, in an act of rage that left the town of Cow Farm in shock. Porkpah shot Doris with a single-barrel gun during a domestic dispute over allegations of infidelity. The gunshot echoed through the village, and Doris collapsed—lifeless. Her daughter, just a toddler at the time, was left orphaned in an instant. Porkpah fled but was later arrested and, in September 2022, sentenced to life in prison.
The tragedy, however, did not end with Doris’ death. It merely set in motion a life of unrelenting hardship for her child.
After losing her mother, the young girl was taken in by her guardian, Tohun Togbah, and extended family in the remote corners of Zota District. But instead of the nurturing childhood every child deserves, she has been forced into a harsh reality. With no access to school, she spends her days helping relatives on their farm, struggling to find enough food, clothing, and medical care. Each passing year widens the gap between her and an education—her only hope for a better future.
“This child has lost everything,” Togbah lamented in an interview with this paper. “She’s never been to school. She has no clothes, no medical care, and barely enough food to eat. If help doesn’t come, she may never have a chance at life beyond this hardship.”
Togbah’s concerns extend beyond the child’s immediate needs. The unforgiving terrain of Zota District presents its own dangers—thick forests where children can easily become lost and limited access to emergency healthcare. On top of her struggles, the girl reportedly suffers from recurring health problems, but with no financial resources, treatment remains out of reach.
“If we can get some help, she can go to school, she can start learning, and she can have a chance at a life that doesn’t feel like a constant struggle,” Togbah pleaded, calling on goodwill Liberians both at home and abroad to intervene.
The girl’s plight is one of many in Bong County, where domestic violence continues to shatter families. According to the Liberia National Police Bong County Detachment Crime Services Division, over 56 cases of domestic homicides were recorded between January 2015 and October 2022, with three occurring in October alone. Anger, jealousy, substance abuse, and depression have been cited as primary contributors to these heinous acts.
One of the most horrifying cases took place in Goll Farm, along the Melekie-Gbarnga highway. A 63-year-old woman, Nowai Yarkpawolo, was allegedly strangled to death by her 58-year-old husband, Kokolu Kpaquoi, during a dispute over 500 Liberian dollars from his cane juice earnings. The conflict escalated, and in the end, Nowai was dead.
These tragedies highlight a deeper crisis—one that goes beyond the individuals involved and speaks to systemic issues of domestic violence and lack of protective mechanisms for victims. For Doris Nyah’s daughter, the trauma remains, manifesting in her daily struggles for survival.
“What will become of her?” Togbah asked, her voice heavy with emotion. “She deserves a life beyond suffering. But without help, this cycle will never end.”
The plea is urgent. This 12-year-old girl’s future is slipping away, one harsh day at a time. Her story is not just a tragedy—it is a call to action, a reminder that somewhere in the depths of Bong County, a child is waiting for a lifeline before it is too late.
Anyone wishing to reach out can do so through these telephone numbers: +231 (0) 778024328/(0)886392814.
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