MONROVIA -The Liberia National Police has launched a formal investigation into the sudden and troubling deaths of two senior Catholic priests, ordering that no embalming procedures be conducted on their bodies as authorities consider a possible autopsy.
By Willie N. Tokpah
The directive was disclosed Friday, March 20 in an official communication from the Archdiocese of Monrovia, signed by Mosteverend Dr. Gabriel Blamo Jubwe, Catholic Archbishop of Monrovia, following what the Church described as a “painful moment” for the Catholic community.
The deceased clerics, Very Rev. Fr. Alphonsus B. Mombo, Lector at St. Benedict Menni Pre-Major Seminar and Very Rev. Fr. Roland G. Biah, Parish Priest, St. Anthony Parish, both held prominent roles within the Archdiocese, making their deaths a matter of national and religious concern.
According to the Archbishop’s statement, the Police have expressed condolences, while confirming the opening of a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“As part of this investigative process, the Liberia National Police has requested not to carry out any embalming procedures on the bodies at this time,” the statement noted.
Authorities further instructed that the remains be “properly preserved” pending the outcome of preliminary inquiries and in anticipation of a possible autopsy, an indication that investigators are treating the case with heightened scrutiny.
While details about the cause or location of the deaths remain undisclosed, the Police’s intervention signals that the matter may involve unresolved or suspicious elements requiring forensic examination.
In his pastoral message, Archbishop Jubwe called for calm, unity, and prayer among the faithful, acknowledging the emotional toll the deaths have placed on the Church.
“It is with a heavy heart that we address you during this painful moment in the life of our Archdiocese,” he wrote, emphasizing the loss of “two brother priests” whose passing has shocked the Catholic community.
The Archbishop also assured parishioners that the Church is cooperating fully with state authorities to ensure that the truth is established.
The unusual nature of the Police request has heightened public concern, with many Liberians closely watching developments in a case that touches both national security and religious life.
In Liberia, where the Church plays a central role in social and moral leadership, the deaths of senior clergy under unclear circumstances often trigger widespread attention and calls for transparency.
As the investigation unfolds, the Liberia National Police is expected to provide further updates, particularly if an autopsy is authorized.
For now, both the Church and the public await answers, seeking clarity, accountability, and justice in a case that has cast a shadow over the nation’s religious community.
Rev. Father Mombo was pronounced dead on March 12 after a brief illness, while Rev. Father Biah was also pronounced dead one day after, on March 13, 2026, after a brief illness.
Their subsequent illness and death reportedly occurred right after both priests returned from a visit to Grand Bassa County.
