Published: December 30, 2024
GBALLAH TOWN, River Cess County — A search operation is underway in the south-Central region of Liberia for a fisherman who has been missing since Christmas Eve. Abraham Gboe, a 42-year-old father of three, was last seen on December 24 while fishing in the Timbo River, raising concerns of foul play and sparking a police investigation.
Gboe, a resident of Gballah Town in the Fen River District of River Cess County, had gone to the mangrove area to catch fish and raise money for his wife’s critical medical expenses. His father, Borbor Gboe, confirmed to local authorities that his son had not returned by Christmas Day, prompting a growing alarm within the community.
“We waited until the 26th of December to inform the public and authorities,” said Borbor Gboe, “We didn’t want to assume anything, but now we fear the worst.”
The delay in reporting the disappearance has raised questions about how the community handled the situation in the critical early hours.
Borbor Gboe, Abraham’s father says they waited until the 26th of December to inform the public and authorities: Photo by Eric Opa Doue.
Investigation and Arrests
Following preliminary investigations by local police, seven individuals have been invited for questioning at the River Cess County Police Detachment in Cestos City. Those under scrutiny include Friday Ziaguah, Joe Ziaguah, Junior Daydyu, Philip Gballa, Augustus Wheh, Duyjay Davis, and Elder David Fuanfuan. The police have not disclosed the nature of the investigation or the potential role of these individuals in the disappearance.
Paramount Chief Livingstone Garzammie confirmed that local authorities are taking the case seriously. A 15-person search team has been mobilized to comb the dense mangrove forests and riverbanks where Gboe was last seen.
“We are committed to finding Abraham and bringing him home,” Chief Garzammie told The Liberian Investigator. “Our search efforts will continue until we uncover the truth.”
A Community in Mourning
The Gboe family’s ordeal comes at a time of heightened concern in the area, which has witnessed a similar tragedy earlier this year. On July 25, just one day before Liberia’s Independence Day, a young man identified only as “Christian” drowned in the Atlantic Ocean near a fishing community about two kilometers from Gballah Town.
Residents have expressed fear that both incidents may be linked, given the proximity of the events and the circumstances surrounding each case. Some villagers are speculating that Gboe’s disappearance may be the result of foul play, though no official cause has been determined.
“This is the second tragedy in just a few months,” said Isaac Gbokolo, a resident of the area. “People are afraid now. The river is supposed to be our livelihood, but these incidents are making us wonder if there are dangers we’re not seeing.”
Residents of the area have expressed fear that both incidents may be linked, given the proximity of the events and the circumstances surrounding each case: Photo by Eric Opa Doue
Ongoing Search
As the investigation continues, Gboe’s wife remains in critical condition, awaiting treatment that is now complicated by the uncertainty surrounding her husband’s disappearance. His children, too young to understand fully, are left to grapple with the sudden absence of their father.
The search for Gboe has highlighted the vulnerabilities of rural communities in Liberia, where access to emergency services can be limited, and incidents like this often go unreported for days. For now, authorities continue their efforts, hoping to bring closure to a family already enduring significant hardship.
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