The Liberian Senate has ordered an investigation into alleged bribery at checkpoints nationwide. President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence instructed the Committee on Defense and Security to probe the claims, following concerns raised by Grand Gedeh County Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely.
Senator Nimely highlighted unnecessary checkpoints and alleged harassment of citizens by joint security members. The decision by the Protemp is aimed at addressing longstanding issues that will ensure citizens’ freedom of movement. The committee was mandated to conduct a speedy investigation concerning Senator Nimely’s complaints and reports to plenary within a week. The decision seeks to address public concerns about checkpoint multiplicity and alleged bribery.
Senator Nimely reported that there are numerous security checkpoints across the country, which he said are causing embarrassment and unnecessary hardship to citizens, particularly affecting their freedom of movement.
He, therefore, called on relevant authorities to review the situation to ease the burden on the public while maintaining national security. Senator Nimely alleged that men at various checkpoints are checking women, and if they don’t find what they are looking for, they must take money and other belongings of peaceful travelers.
He said police checkpoints have been around since the 60s. He added that it is understood that Liberia is a republic; therefore, when a country is a republic, it has an opportunity to decide the system it wants, but once it chooses a democratic system, it has to take on a democratic principle. According to him, one of the major democratic principles is the freedom of movement, warning that the harassment and intimidation by police officers against peaceful citizens who are commuting from one point to another is unprecedented.
He disclosed that from Montserrado County to Ganta City, Nimba County, there are three checkpoints, and at all three checkpoints, people are harassed and intimidated daily.
Explaining his experience, he disclosed that on December 23, 2025, he passed an NTA bus at the Saliah Checkpoint, where everyone got down for check, but within the check booth, two Mandingo people were being processed despite being citizens, something he said left several lying on the ground
