Seven Charged with Murder in Kakata Motorcycle Theft Case

Published: October 22, 2025

KAKATA, Margibi County — The Liberia National Police (LNP) has charged seven individuals with murder and related offenses following another deadly mob attack — the latest in a disturbing wave of vigilante violence that continues to claim lives across Liberia.

The incident, which occurred on October 15 in the Cooper Farm Community along the Kakata–Monrovia Highway, left a young man, identified as Joseph Kabbah, dead after he was accused of stealing a motorcycle. Police said Kabbah, believed to be in his 20s, was allegedly pursued and brutally attacked by a group of motorcyclists who claimed he had stolen a bike weeks earlier.

Following an investigation, the LNP arrested and charged Morris Sackie, 25; Winston Benjamin, 40; Peter Sepoe, 26; George Mulbah, 20; Johnson Davis, 19; Elijah Kollie, 20; and Taylor T. Terry, 18 with murder, tampering with evidence, false public alarm, and disorderly conduct.

Authorities confirmed that 19 motorcycles used during the chase were seized, and the seven suspects have been forwarded to court for prosecution. Police investigators linked the killing to a prior theft report involving Sackie, who claimed his motorcycle had been stolen on September 7. On October 15, he reportedly spotted two men riding what he believed was his stolen bike and alerted fellow riders, leading to the deadly pursuit.

“This is a tragic reminder that mob justice undermines the rule of law,” the LNP spokesperson in Kakata said, adding, “No one has the right to take another person’s life, regardless of the accusation.”

The case underscores a growing pattern of mob violence in Liberia, where communities increasingly resort to street justice instead of turning suspects over to the police.

Just a week earlier, a similar killing occurred in Johnsonville Township, where residents beat to death another man accused of stealing a motorcycle. Police have strongly condemned the attacks and urged citizens to report crimes through lawful channels rather than taking matters into their own hands.

Human rights advocates and civil society groups are also calling for a stronger law enforcement presence and civic education to stop the rising tide of mob killings that continue to weaken public trust in the justice system. Authorities have assured the public that the investigation was comprehensive and promised that those responsible will face justice “in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Liberia.”