Africa-Press – Liberia. Montserrado County Senator Abe Darius Dillon has raised alarm about threats to his life, saying escalating political attacks from supporters of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) have placed him at personal risk.
The senator made the claim during Tuesday’s Senate plenary, where he detailed what he described as a growing campaign of misinformation linking him to hostility against Nimba County.
According to Senator Dillon, the accusations stem from his oversight of the Ministry of Labor and, in particular, his insistence that Minister Cooper Kruah provide updates on work permit enforcement.
The senator said his questions to the minister were purely administrative but have been twisted into a political narrative suggesting he is opposed to Nimba County, where Minister Kruah and many MDR supporters originate.
Senator Dillon recalled that during Minister Kruah’s confirmation hearing, he raised concerns about strengthening the work permit system to prioritize employment opportunities for Liberians. He said Minister Kruah committed to presenting a progress report within six months, a commitment the senator believed warranted follow-up when no update was provided.
According to Senator Dillon, that routine oversight immediately drew backlash. He said senior figures within the MDR, including individuals working inside the Ministry of Labor, began portraying his inquiries as an attempt to undermine the county and frustrate Nimba’s political influence in national affairs. He told the Senate that this characterization is entirely false but is being aggressively promoted on radio stations, social media platforms, and political forums.
The lawmaker said the situation intensified when Minister Kruah spoke at a government press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Information. According to Senator Dillon, the minister publicly claimed that the senator’s criticism of his performance was rooted in bias against Nimba County. Senator Dillon said the minister also alleged that the senator had a history of targeting Nimba politicians, including those who served in previous administrations. The comments were broadcast live and widely shared online, fueling further hostility from MDR supporters.
Senator Dillon also reported that an assistant secretary of the MDR, who is employed at the Ministry of Labor, went on radio in Nimba County and accused him of being responsible for the death of the late Nimba Senator Prince Johnson.
He said the official further claimed that Senator Dillon was seeking to cause the downfall or possible harm of other Nimba leaders. Senator Dillon described these allegations as “reckless, incendiary, and extremely dangerous,” noting that they originated from an employee of the same ministry whose policies he is mandated to question.
The senator said the Deputy Director of Communications at the Ministry of Labor also issued public statements accusing him of undermining the unity agenda of the government and attempting to prevent Nimba citizens from rising to senior national positions. He said these repeated accusations have taken hold among a segment of MDR supporters who now openly identify him as an “enemy” of Nimba County.
According to Senator Dillon, the pattern of attacks indicates that the allegations are not coincidental but appear coordinated. He noted that Minister Kruah serves as chairman of the MDR, giving him significant sway over the party’s messaging and political direction. Senartor Dillon said the overlap between party officials and ministry staff makes the accusations more concerning and creates an environment in which political disagreements are being recast as ethnic or regional hostilities.
During his remarks, Senator Dillon reminded his colleagues that he had previously confronted government nominees on issues of citizenship and legal compliance but was never accused of acting against any group of Liberians. He cited several confirmation battles in the past administration in which the Senate rejected individuals he considered unqualified. Senator Dillon said those actions were never framed as targeting any ethnic bloc, questioning why routine oversight now carries such inflammatory interpretations.
The Montserrado senator said the rhetoric being spread by MDR officials and supporters carries serious security implications. He warned that such narratives, when directed at an elected official, could trigger actions from individuals who might interpret them as calls to confront or harm him.
Senator Dillon said that in Liberia’s history, similar allegations spread during periods of political instability have resulted in violence, making the current tension even more alarming.
Senator Dillon told his colleagues that he has no hostility toward Nimba County and emphasized that he voted to confirm Minister Kruah in good faith. He said he expected the minister to honor his commitment on work permit reforms and maintain a professional relationship, not interpret oversight as political warfare.
The senator called on the Senate to invite Minister Kruah and all relevant parties to clarify their public statements and address the allegations. He said the matter goes beyond politics and now threatens to sow division between counties, undermine national unity efforts, and erode public trust in the oversight responsibilities of the Legislature.
Senator Dillon urged the Senate to intervene before the situation worsens, saying the accusations circulating against him are not only untrue but carry the potential to incite unnecessary conflict if left unchecked.
Efforts to reach to Minister Kruah for comment up to press time was unsuccessful.
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