Published: October 24, 2025
GBEKEN, Maryland County – Residents of Gbeken Town in Karluway District are in shock after a man allegedly poisoned his friend with cane juice, leading to his death.
The tragedy has ignited public concern over community justice, delayed police response, and the growing use of traditional toxins in local disputes. According to the Karluway detachment of the Liberia National Police (LNP), the victim, identified as Isaac Davis, reportedly collapsed at a neighborhood drinking spot after consuming cane juice believed to have been laced with poison.
The incident, occurred recently in the remote town of Gbeken. Township Commissioner Francis Collins said residents initially believed Davis died from a sudden illness, but suspicions grew after witnesses gave conflicting accounts of what happened.
“We thought it was just a natural death,” Collins said. “But when people began saying his friend might have mixed something in the drink, we had to alert the police.”
Several days later, the case reached the Karluway police detachment, prompting an investigation. The LNP’s Crime Services Division (CSD) confirmed that a suspect, identified as Cyrus Bardio, was arrested and reportedly confessed to poisoning Davis’ drink using crocodile bile — a substance traditionally believed to be lethal.
Investigators said Bardio told police that his actions stemmed from a long-standing debt dispute. According to police, the deceased owed him 3,500 Liberian dollars, of which he had only repaid 700 LD.
“The suspect admitted that he acted out of anger over the unpaid money,” said Inspector Brown, a CSD investigator. “He told us he poured the substance into the cane juice when the victim briefly stepped away from the table.”
However, police said Bardio’s statements about how he obtained the alleged poison have been inconsistent. He first claimed to have received it from a friend in Zone 8, Pleebo-Sodoken District, and later said he acquired it from Dougbo, Grand Kru County.
Investigators dispatched search teams to both areas but found no trace of the purported substance. The case has since been transferred to the Maryland County Criminal Service Division for further investigation to verify the suspect’s confession and determine the exact cause of death through forensic analysis.
Meanwhile, Gbeken residents say the incident has rekindled fears about the use of traditional or animal-derived poisons in personal and domestic conflicts — a practice that has quietly persisted in some rural parts of Liberia. Community elder Martha Nupay said the death has left residents deeply unsettled.
“This is a wake-up call,” Nupay said. “People need to understand that no matter how small the problem is, you can’t take someone’s life. We need more police presence and awareness in these areas.”
Local leaders have joined calls for stronger community policing and public education on peaceful conflict resolution. Many argue that limited law enforcement coverage and reliance on traditional justice systems continue to make rural residents vulnerable to acts of revenge and vigilante justice.
Discussion about this post