The Liberia Immigration Service – LIS has instituted several disciplinary measures with the immediate dismissal of two officers, suspension of four officers without pay and warning three for illegal possession and discharge of firearm leading to bodily injury of a civilian, neglect of duty and concealing information from authority.
In a statement issued by the LIS, the Commissioner General- Designate, Hon. Elijah F. Rufus, noted that the move underscores the LIS’s commitment to maintaining integrity and accountability, discipline, professionalism in the service emphasizing that their separate and collective acts were wanting and unbecoming of an officer in violation of provisions of the LIS Act of 2016, the Code of Conduct, Administrative Instructions and the Disciplinary Regulation, specifically Category 2 Offence, which contravenes Section 8.2 (b) page 142 of the Disciplinary Regulation of 2016…Failure to report misconduct or criminal acts and neglect of duty.
Commissioner Rufus said that the actions were taken based on findings and recommendations of an investigation into a shooting incident in a Mining Camp in Grand Kru County on December 13, 2024 involving an LIS officer assigned in Maryland County.
Following an internal investigation into the illegal possession and discharge of a firearm that led to the bodily injury of a civilian, Mr. Sailoh Assafu, alias Kitchen Girl, a Ghanaian national, the LIS has taken decisive action to ensure accountability and maintain public trust.
Reports indicated that the shooting resulted to a civilian, Mr. Sailoh Assafu, alias Kitchen Girl, a Ghanaian national sustaining wounds for which the Liberia Immigration Service commissioned an investigation conducted by its Professional Standard Division in keeping with the LIS act of 2016 and the Administration Instruction (AI) and Immigration Regulations.
As a result:
- Officers Alex Kwia and George T. Woyah, Commander and Officer assigned, respectively of the Marine Unit, Maryland County Detachment, were dismissed from the LIS with immediate effect for the act of illegal possession and illegal discharge of a firearm resulting in serious bodily injury of a civilian. They will be forwarded to the Liberia National Police – LNP for further probe and subsequently forwarded to court for prosecution.
- Officers Boima T. Passawe, Chief of Operations, Inspectorate Division, J. Clarence T. Gibson, Jr., Chief of Leeward, Comptroller Daniel B. Nagbe, Director for Operations, Maliki M. Sheriff, Senior Inspector, have been suspended off-the job for a period of two (2) months each without pay for receiving and concealing such information of reputational risk from the LIS Administration (Borad of Commissioners) as well as their deliberate failure to transmit to Administration such incident willingly and willfully.
- Additionally, Officer Zarwolo Dolo has been suspended off-the job for a period of one (1) month without pay for agreeing to go on a mission with a non-certified firearm carrier without precaution, thereby jeopardizing his own life and those of civilians.
- Also Officers Abdul Jallahquay, Commander, Maryland County Detachment, William Toe, Jr., Regional Commander, Region Five (5), and Augustine Y. Gbolego, Commander, Grand Kru County Detachment, have been issued warning letters for failure to exert sufficient efforts to ensure that said information, given its reputational risk nature, reached the LIS highest authorities in time.
The LIS used the release to reiterate its commitment to upholding high standards of integrity and accountability within its ranks, emphasizing that such actions will not be tolerated…” The LIS reiterates its zero-tolerance policy on misconduct and urges all personnel to adhere strictly to the code of conduct governing their duties. Moving forward, the agency will continue to implement reforms aimed at strengthening accountability mechanisms and ensuring that officers uphold the highest standards of professionalism.”
Commissioner Rufus stressed that the administrative actions are aimed at ensuring integrity, discipline and professionalism in the service, calling on officers to operate in the confines of the law at all times. “These measures reflect the commitment of the Immigration Authorities to fostering a disciplined, transparent, and professional immigration service that upholds the rule of law and serves the best interests of the Liberian people and residents”.
The LIS Authority remains committed to building a credible and efficient immigration service that operates with integrity and serves as a pillar of national security and stability.
Meanwhile, the dismissed officer and all suspended officers are mandated to turn over all Government property (ies) in their possession to the Chief of Human Resource Section and desist from identifying themselves as immigration officers effective immediately.
