By Emmanuel Koffa
The controversy over the influx of Burkinabès in the country took a dramatic turn over the weekend.
Henceforth, authorities at the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) in Grand Kru County, have confirmed the arrest, investigation, and subsequent deportation of 20 them.
The affected West Africans were intercepted on Thursday morning, November 27, 2025, at the Big Suehn-Topoh Checkpoint.
LIS officials in the county said, the foreign nationals entered Grand Kru through the Behwan Checkpoint at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, before being stopped at the Topoh Checkpoint in Barclayville, the political capital.
The interception of the “undesirable aliens,” followed intelligence received from the Behwan checkpoint, prompting early morning action by immigration officers.
LIS Grand Kru County Commander, Augustine Gbolego, confirmed the arrest and removal of the 20 aliens during a briefing with journalists.
Gbolego said preliminary findings showed that the Burkinabès were brought into the area by residents of Picnicess Community to engage in agricultural work.
Gbolego said the LIS had earlier received a directive from its Monrovia headquarters in mid-September, instructing all county commanders to prevent Burkinabè nationals from settling in their respective jurisdictions.
“The presence of the 20 individuals directly violated that mandate.
In keeping with the instruction from headquarters, these individuals are not allowed to reside, work, or settle anywhere in the county.”
Local authorities from Picnicess, including the town and clan chiefs, admitted that they facilitated the arrival of the Burkinabès’ workers.
The chiefs admitted that their town is facing severe food shortages due to low farming activity among residents.
“People say they are fishing, but they are not serious. We need food. Only five people here are actively farming. That’s why we decided to invite people, who can produce food for our survival.”
Gbolego meanwhile, assured the public that LIS officers escorted the deportees out of the country through the Ivory Coast border, in line with immigration procedures.
He reaffirmed that national security regulations would continue to be strictly enforced.
Following the investigation, the LIS documented the identities of each of the deportees, based on the identification cards in their possession.