STAND Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu was found in possession of a firearm during the July 17, 2026 protest near the Executive Mansion, an incident that has sparked public debate and heightened tensions between the protest movement and state security.
Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed Morlu holding up a firearm at the protest grounds, prompting widespread concern and calls for a full investigation into the origin of the weapon and the circumstances under which it appeared at the demonstration.
Speaking after the protest, Morlu claimed the firearm was taken from an unidentified individual whom he alleged had been sent to disrupt the peaceful gathering.
He maintained that protesters disarmed the individual before any violence could occur.
However, Morlu did not publicly identify the alleged suspect or present the individual to the media or law enforcement authorities.
He also did not provide evidence to independently verify his account, leaving many questions unanswered.
The lack of publicly available evidence has fueled speculation among Liberians, with many asking who the firearm belonged to, how it reached the protest scene, and why the alleged suspect has not been identified.
Some political observers have also described the July 17 demonstration as one of the weakest protests organized under Morlu’s leadership, although such assessments remain matters of public opinion.
Morlu noted that the armed individual was allegedly sent to create confusion and provoke violence during the protest.
He insisted that protesters acted responsibly by confiscating the weapon before the situation escalated.
As of publication, authorities have not independently confirmed Morlu’s allegations, and the Liberia National Police (LNP) said its investigation into the incident continues.
Meanwhile, the LNP has declared Morlu “armed and dangerous,” alleging that a police-issued firearm was seized from an officer during the protest and is now believed to be in Morlu’s unlawful possession.
Police said they received what they described as credible intelligence suggesting the firearm could be used for unlawful purposes.
Based on that information, the LNP ordered Morlu to immediately surrender the weapon to the nearest police station or any recognized law enforcement authority.
The police further instructed officers not to confront Morlu alone but to notify the nearest command center to ensure that any operation involving him is carried out in accordance with Liberian law and established police procedures.
Authorities also appealed to members of the public with credible information about the firearm or Morlu’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station, while cautioning citizens not to attempt to apprehend him themselves because of potential safety risks.
For his part, Morlu has denied unlawfully possessing the firearm.
He maintains that the weapon was recovered from an unidentified individual and was never intended for his personal use, contradicting the police’s assertion that he remains in possession of it.
The conflicting accounts from Morlu and the Liberia National Police have intensified calls for an independent and transparent investigation to establish how the firearm reached the protest scene, whether it was indeed taken from a police officer or another individual, and who should ultimately be held accountable.
Until investigators present verified evidence, key questions surrounding the incident remain unresolved.