MONROVIA – Officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, responded to a violent incident in Congo Town that left three officers critically wounded and a suspect dead. The confrontation unfolded after the suspect, identified as Matthew Mulbah, reportedly attacked the officers with a cutlass and a knife.
According to eyewitnesses, Mulbah ignored police commands and charged at the officers, wounding three of them. In the scuffle, an LNP officer discharged a firearm, claiming self-defense and citing “immediate mortal danger.” The suspect was pronounced dead after emergency treatment at a nearby hospital, while the injured officers were rushed to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, where one remains in critical condition undergoing surgery.
LNP has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack and the police response, including the use of lethal force. The incident has sparked public conversations, particularly because Mulbah was known in the community as a peaceful and helpful individual prior to his recent change in behavior.
Former Education Minister George Kronnisanyon Werner paid a heartfelt tribute to Mulbah, describing him as a close friend and a “gentle giant.” Werner revealed that Mulbah had recently fallen ill and was reportedly suffering from malaria, possibly cerebral malaria, which had caused his behavior to become erratic and violent.
“Matthew was my friend, a close friend. We lived in the same neighborhood, and I rarely took a walk without him. Whenever my car or generator gave me trouble, he was the first person I called,” Werner wrote.
He explained that friends had mobilized to take Mulbah to the hospital earlier that morning, but he became agitated and injured some of those attempting to help him, prompting them to call the police.
“In trying to disarm him to take the knife from him, one or more officers were reportedly stabbed. In the chaos, they shot him in the stomach. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died,” Werner stated.
Werner described Mulbah as someone who had never acted violently since they met in 2011 and expressed sorrow over the tragic turn of events. “May God forgive his human limitations and grant him eternal rest. And may all those injured in this tragic incident find healing and recovery,” he added.
The LNP has not yet issued a full statement on the incident, but investigations are ongoing to establish a clear account of what transpired.
