By Jamesetta D. Williams
Mulbah Morlu turned over the gun allegedly seized from a “government operative” during Friday’s Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) organized protest to the Liberia National Police, but does that mean gun actually belonged to a police officer or Morlu only bowed to pressure in respect of the law.
The question however remains who actually owns the gun, as both Morlu and the LNP make claims and counterclaims about ownership and what happened.
The LNP insisted the weapon belongs to an assaulted officer during protest, while STAND Chairman Morlu maintains that it was taken from an individual he accused of infiltrating the demonstration.
The controversy emerged after the LNP declared STAND Chairman Mulbah Morlu armed and dangerous, accusing him of being in possession of a police-issued firearm allegedly taken from an officer during the protest.
In a statement issued on July 17, 2026, the LNP said it had received credible intelligence indicating that the firearm seized from a police officer was intended for unlawful purposes and demanded that Morlu immediately surrender the weapon to the nearest police station or recognized law enforcement authority.
The police further launched a criminal investigation into the alleged theft of the government-issued service weapon, with Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman claiming that investigators had confirmed that the firearm displayed publicly by STAND was the same weapon taken from a police officer who was allegedly assaulted while traveling to his assigned duty station.
“Morlu! Bring that gun. We know you got it and it constitutes a criminal offense. Bring it now,” Coleman said, calling on the STAND chairman to cooperate with investigators.
Meanwhile, some citizens and members of the public have joined calls for STAND to provide evidence regarding the firearm displayed during the protest, including proof of how the weapon was obtained and the identity of the individual from whom it was allegedly taken.
The demand for clarification has further fueled public debate over whether the firearm belongs to the Liberia National Police or was recovered from an unauthorized person during the demonstration.
Responding to the accusations, STAND Chairman Mulbah Morlu rejected the LNP’s claims and accused the police leadership of attempting to intimidate him.
Morlu alleged that the firearm was taken from an individual who had joined the protest while pretending to be a demonstrator. He claimed the person was armed and posed a potential danger to protesters.
According to Morlu, STAND’s crowd control team identified the alleged threat and secured the firearm to prevent possible harm during the protest.
He insisted that he was not afraid of any arrest threats and challenged authorities to act if they believed he had committed a crime.
“But I want to make it clear: I am not afraid of you. I’m not scared. If you want to send police officers to arrest me tonight, go ahead,” Morlu said.
The STAND chairman also accused the police of failing to acknowledge what he described as a possible security threat and instead focusing on blaming protesters.
As the investigation continues, the key question remains: Who owns the firearm displayed during the protest, and under what circumstances did it come into STAND’s possession?
The Liberia National Police has maintained that the weapon is a stolen government-issued firearm, while STAND continues to dispute the allegation and calls for an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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