MONROVIA – In the aftermath of the devastating fire that reduced everything in the William R. Tolbert Joint Chamber of the Legislature to charred remnants and ashes, the Liberia National Police, speaking on behalf of the joint security, announced plans to invite international experts with the requisite capacity to conduct a thorough investigation.
Three weeks after the incident, the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, during a press conference also attended by the Liberia National Fire Service, informed the nation that they had gathered sufficient evidence to conclude that the fire was an act of arson. Col. Gregory Coleman further disclosed that the police had identified several persons of interest and invited them for questioning. He warned that failure to comply would result in the issuance of arrest warrants to compel their cooperation.
Col. Coleman stated, “At this point in time, we want to officially inform the nation that we have sufficient evidence to classify the fire at the Capitol as an act of arson. The building’s electrical system was assessed and found to be functional up to the time of the fire. We are confident in our findings. We have identified persons of interest in this investigation. Those individuals have been contacted, and we are sending a clear message: come forward to assist with the investigation. If they fail to do so, they could face arrest.”
On Thursday, The Liberian Investigator contacted both the Liberia National Police and the National Fire Service to inquire whether international experts were involved in the investigation, as previously announced. The following questions were posed to Col. G. Warsuweh Barvoul, Director General of the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS):
- Did the LNFS involve international fire experts in investigating the fire’s cause as initially announced?
- If international experts were involved, could you provide details on their identities, areas of expertise, and the countries or organizations they represent?
- If no international experts were engaged, what specific methods or tools were used by the LNFS to determine the fire’s cause?
- Who were the individuals or teams within the LNFS that conducted the investigation, and what expertise did they bring to the process?
- Can the LNFS provide documentation or evidence, such as investigation reports or technical analyses, to support their conclusions regarding the fire’s cause?
In response, Col. Barvoul said, “Please wait for the final report.”
Similar inquiries were sent to the Liberia National Police, but no response was received.
It is not clear why the police and the Liberia National Fire Service are mute on whether there international experts aiding with the investigation.
In 2024, the outgoing Deputy Director for Administration at the Liberia National Fire Service at the time attributed the numerous fire incidents in the country to insufficient budgetary allotment to the entity.
In October 2023, the third floor of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning was engulfed in fire. Although the ministry, in a statement, assured the public that all its records remained intact despite the incident and that the Liberia National Fire Service was investigating and would release their findings to the public, those findings were never disclosed.
A former law enforcement officer, speaking anonymously, told The Liberian Investigator that arrests should already be underway given the overwhelming evidence pointing to arson.
“I watched the press conference and expected the Liberia National Fire Service to address the cause of the fire, while the police tackled the criminal aspect. There’s a need for more details about the flammable substance believed to have caused the fire. Presenting conclusions to the public without substantial evidence in such a sensitive investigation could lead to political speculations,” the former officer said.
Others in political circles have alleged that the joint security’s preliminary report aims to implicate embattled Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa in the alleged arson as a strategy to weaken him before the President delivers his Annual Message later this month.
A supporter of Speaker Koffa argued, “The Inspector General of Police was on the 50-50 Talk Show on Sky FM with T-Max Jlateh, claiming that three individuals were arrested for attacking a police officer with intent to kill. He said these individuals were first spotted in Banjor, Brewerville, and later escaped into a property allegedly owned by Speaker Koffa. They were subsequently arrested in Congo Town, near the Speaker’s current residence. It seems the police are desperate to establish an alibi.”
The December 18, 2024, Capitol fire occurred amid intense turmoil in the House of Representatives. A bitter leadership dispute between Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and Representative Richard Koon, Speaker of the majority bloc, had left the legislature deeply divided. Just a day before the blaze, protests against Speaker Koffa’s ‘unlawful’ removal turned violent, resulting in several arrests, including that of Sekou Kalasco, a key aide to former President George Weah.
President Joseph Boakai’s visit to the fire site, accompanied by Vice President Jeremiah Koung and Majority Bloc Speaker Koon, further fueled suspicions of political interference. During his visit, the President declared the fire an act of arson even before the investigation had commenced.
“We’re not going to accept this. We’re asking the Minister of Justice and all security apparatuses to investigate this thoroughly. Those responsible will be dealt with. We will set the tone for anyone who thinks destroying property is acceptable when they’re angry. We’re not going to tolerate this,” the President asserted.
President Boakai ordered the Justice Ministry to bring the culprits to justice, setting a firm tone but raising concerns that his remarks may have influenced the investigation.
Discussion about this post