Following the death of a 17-year-old kid, Lofa authorities are looking into a mob justice incident. Yesterday, there was tension in Voinjama district’s David Selma’s Town as authorities intervened to stop more bloodshed.
On April 10, 2026, a 17-year-old kid in David Selmah Town passed away from an unidentified sickness in an instance of mob justice.
After his passing, a number of locals, mostly young people, accused Massa Gborie, a guy thought to be in his 40s, of using traditional medicine to cause his death.
The accused claims that when he was abducted by force and put in the same room as the boy’s body, tensions increased before to the burial. He claimed that a furious mob stormed the room and threatened to punish Gborie severely if he didn’t confess to the purported incident.
He allegedly endured cruel treatment in spite of his repeated denials of the charges.
According to Gborie’s later account, he was severely restrained, with people applying pressure and forcing his legs between sticks, inflicting excruciating discomfort. In order to prove his innocence, he also claimed that he was forced to kiss the deceased’s corpse.
Local officials became aware of the situation as the crowd’s ire grew, with some allegedly demanding the accused’s execution.
Police were called, and an intervention team was sent to the community by Lofa County Attorney J. Luther Sumo.
Authorities used what they called “strategic security measures” to remove Gborie from the scene despite opposition from neighborhood residents. For his safety, he was taken to Voinjama, where he is presently being held by state security while an inquiry is conducted.
The situation in the town intensified after the accused were removed. Roadblocks were built and Gborie’s house was vandalized by irate locals.
While investigations into the boy’s murder and the purported mob actions continue, security personnel are currently attempting to bring peace back to the region.
Human rights organizations and legal professionals in Lofa County continue to emphasize that charges of any kind must be handled through legal, evidence-based procedures.
The public is urged to maintain composure until the inquiry is conducted, as authorities have not yet verified any accusations.
