Misleading: Police Did Not Issue a Press Release on Lethal Force Against Protesters
By Augusta Lafalay
Claim: "Police issued Press Release warning both lethal and non-lethal force" being used against protesters who are not permitted"
Source: Abu M. Sheriff, Liberian Journalist
Verdict: The claims about an official police press release authorizing lethal force and presidential military backup are false. The deletion of the original post further confirms the claim was inaccurate.
Full Text: Abu M. Sheriff, is a talk-show host with Freedom FM owned by Sam Siryon former deputy director at National Security Agency (NSA) under the Weah-led administration.
In his June 9, 2025, Facebook posted, Abu claim that the Liberia National Police (LNP) issued a press release warning the public including former President George M. Weah of its decision to use "lethal and non-lethal force" against protesters who are not permitted, and that President Joseph N. Boakai authorized Armed Forces to support police if needed. The post had received 22 comments and 9 reactions before removal.
Verification: We checked the official LNP Facebook page to verify this claim, and found a disclaimer post distancing itself from the information circulating around.
Police Spokesperson Cecelia G. Clarke officially stated that:
- No such press release was issued
- The information circulating on social media is "false"
- The message was "fabricated" to spread misinformation and cause alarm
- Police will take action against those spreading false information
Police emphasized they remain "fully committed to upholding law and order while respecting citizens' constitutional rights and freedom." They urged the public to rely only on official sources for police information.
Additionally, we found that Abu M. Sheriff later deleted his original Facebook post in which he spread such false information.
Conclusion: Based on our findings, the claims made by Sheriff regarding an official LNP press release authorizing lethal force against protesters and presidential authorization for Armed Forces backup is misleading. The deletion of the original post by Sheriff further undermines the credibility of the initial claim.
