Monrovia – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has provided an update on its handling of a child protection case involving allegations of sexual abuse against Peter Bono Jallah, outlining a series of coordinated interventions undertaken to safeguard the child and ensure proper medical and psychosocial care.
According to the Ministry, a joint government response involving the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), the Ministry of Justice, MoGCSP, and partner institutions was immediately activated following the incident to provide emergency medical attention and protective services to the child.
The Ministry stated that the child underwent an initial medical assessment at JFK Medical Center, where he received treatment for approximately one month under the approval of hospital authorities.
Following treatment, the child was placed in the care of MoGCSP in a secure shelter environment, where he continued to receive psychosocial support, medical care, and child protection services in line with national standards.
During his stay under state care, the Ministry said the child was regularly taken to JFK Medical Center for follow-up treatment and was later diagnosed with appendicitis, for which he underwent additional medical care and remained hospitalized for about one week until full recovery.
MoGCSP further disclosed that the child also benefited from psychosocial support sessions and visits to the St. Benedict Rehabilitation Center in Pipeline, Paynesville City, as part of ongoing recovery support.
However, the Ministry explained that after consultations with the Ministry of Justice (Sex Crimes Unit), the child was later reunited with his biological mother, Ms. Sattarus S. Kennedy, on May 8, 2026. The handover, according to the Ministry, was done in line with confidential case procedures and included a formal agreement signed by the child’s mother, while SOS Children’s Villages committed to providing additional family support.
The Ministry noted that follow-up monitoring was carried out by assigned case workers to ensure continued well-being after reunification.
On May 19, 2026, the child’s mother reportedly visited the Ministry, where she collected personal belongings of the child but did not disclose any health-related concerns at the time.
The Ministry clarified that at the point of reunification, the child was in stable and good health.
Following social media reports on June 4, 2026, alleging that the child had been abandoned, the Ministry, in collaboration with JFK Medical Center and the Liberia National Police (LNP), dispatched a joint team to verify the situation and provide immediate support.
Upon arrival at the residence of Ms. Kennedy on June 5, the team was informed that the child was not present and was reportedly in the care of another family member. The mother further indicated that the child would be made available on June 8, 2026, for assessment and further intervention.
The Ministry has emphasized that all actions taken in the case have been guided by the best interest of the child and its legal responsibility to protect vulnerable children. It also cautioned against the spread of unverified information and urged the public and media to seek official confirmation before publishing sensitive reports.
MoGCSP reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Ministry of Justice and other partners to ensure accountability and due process in all cases involving child protection and gender-based violence.
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