Fatal Accident in Nimba County Claims Lives of Rape Suspect, Witness, Police Officer and Civilian
July 31, 2025
Nimba: A tragic road accident in Nimba County has claimed the lives of four individuals, including a police officer, a 14-year-old rape victim, the rape suspect, and a community watch member.
The fatal incident occurred along the Tappita–Saclepea highway near Loyee Creek in District #7 as the group was en route to Sanniquellie for court proceedings. All four victims died at the scene.
According to OK FM, eyewitness accounted that the rape suspect, 38-year-old Larmie Samuo of River Cess County, resisted being taken to Sanniquellie for further investigation. Also present was 14-year-old Blessings Thomas, the alleged victim and key witness in the case.
Ephrian Bundeah, an officer with the Liberia National Police’s Police Support Unit (PSU), had been assigned to escort the suspect. Junior Walkbeah, a member of the Community Watch Forum, was responsible for transporting them on a motorcycle due to the lack of police vehicles.
Local authorities and residents say the crash reflects a deeper, systemic problem within Nimba County’s justice system. Most police stations and magisterial courts lack basic logistics, including functioning vehicles, which delays judicial processes and puts lives at risk.
“This isn’t the first time a tragedy like this has happened,” a local justice official said. “We continue to lose lives because of logistical failures.”
Magisterial courts in the region have also come under criticism for reportedly charging exorbitant fees to victims seeking justice.
The high costs and lack of infrastructure have prevented many from accessing the legal system and contributed to growing public frustration. In the past, these frustrations have boiled over into violent protests. Police stations in Tappita and Saclepea were previously set ablaze by angry mobs protesting delays and perceived injustices.
This latest incident has sparked renewed calls for the Liberian government to invest in law enforcement resources and infrastructure to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
The four lives lost in this crash serve as a grim reminder of the urgent need for reform in the administration of justice across Nimba County and beyond.
