Chaos erupted in Gborr Town in Grand Bassa County when sme residents, predominately youth, reportedly denied the burial of an elderly deceased person.
Reports say residents also held the corpse hostage on grounds that he did not live his youthful years in the town, “and therefore cannot be buried here.”
“He will not be buried here. He abandoned this place and traveled elsewhere. He has no establishment, house, no land here. So, will not allow the body bury in any part of the town,” residents were quoted as they reportedly denied the burial of one of their own, who died recently from a distant clan.
Gborr Town is situated around the Zond United Methodist Mission in Electoral Distrust #4, Grand Bassa County.
The deceased, David William Nyankpee, was one of the “traditional elders,” but did not live in the town until he died.
The youth held the corpse hostage shortly his remains were brought in the town for burial.
They demanded a ransom of L$400, but bereaved family members paid L$600, three crates of soft drinks, a 25kg bag of rice and a gallon of cane-juice (a locally produced beverages) to the angry youth and elders.
The situation, which occurred on Saturday, January 10, 2026, grounded social and business activities until officers of the Liberian National Police arrived.
The police peacefully negotiated with the aggrieved party, (some of them wore traditional masques and customs), brought the tension under control.
They youth chanted anti burial songs, while the police intervened.
Meanwhile, the body was later released to the bereaved family following several hours of intense negotiations for burial the next day.
Source: Teto Roberts: 0776571185/ceedortroberts@gmail.com