Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah has condemned and blasted at Bong County District #5 Representative Marvin Cole for describing the arrest of former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor as an attack on the people of Bong County calling the statement reckless and unacceptable from any leader.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing in Monrovia on Tuesday, September 2, 2026, Minister Piah said the arrest of the former Vice President is a legal matter and not politically motivated.
“The arrest of the former Vice President is not political or an attack on any tribe or group. This is legal,” Piah stated. The information minister drew parallels to past high-profile arrests to reject Cole’s tribal framing.
“A former Chief Justice was taken to that same Monrovia Central Prison. She was arrested in this country for the alleged murder of her daughter. That was not considered as an attack on the people of Maryland,” Piah reminded Cole. According to him, leaders have a responsibility to speak with caution saying, “A leader should not speak the way he spoke because this country went to dark days because of such statements.
Over the weekend, Representative Marvin Cole told a cross-section of Bong County residents that the arrest of “your daughter” by President Boakai was an attack on Bong County. “If this was Nimba County, by this time it could be another thing in Liberia,” Cole allegedly told the gathering.
Former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor was arrested and charged in connection with drug and money laundering allegations. Minister Piah said the government will not allow public officials to incite division or tribal sentiment around legal processes. “Leaders must not talk recklessly. We are building a country of laws, not a country of counties,” he said. The Minister urged all Liberians to allow the law to take its course and avoid statements that threaten national peace.
