Monrovia, Liberia – Former Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) Commissioner Steve Zargo has finally broken his silence following his suspension from office. In a bold and emotional public statement issued on Sunday, July 27, 2025, Zargo described the past months as a long and painful period of silence and uncertainty.
“I am tired of waiting without answers. I am tired of being meek and disregarded. I am tired of sitting idled while people misinterpret my suspension. I am tired of being sacrificed for tradition,” Zargo declared ahead of a widely anticipated media appearance.
Zargo, a prominent figure in Liberia’s security sector and a former Senator of Lofa County, was suspended in late 2024 by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, whom Zargo publicly refers to as his “uncle.” While he made brief comments in May of this year, Sunday’s statement marked his most direct and candid remarks to date.
He dismissed widespread rumors suggesting his removal was connected to the misappropriation of funds, a refusal to arrest former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweh, or the controversial deportation of a Guinean national who was later killed in his home country.
“I heard a lot of stories about my suspension and subsequent dismissal,” he said. “Some said it was due to misappropriation, others claimed it was because I refused to arrest former Finance Minister Samuel Tweh. Another account suggested it was because I deported a Guinean who was later killed. Sadly, none of these are true.”
According to Zargo, the official letter from the Executive Mansion merely stated that President Boakai believed he had not performed satisfactorily. However, Zargo maintains that during his nine-month tenure, he worked diligently to reform the LIS, implementing systems he believed would improve national border security and administrative integrity.
He also disclosed that traditional chiefs and elders in Lofa County had sought answers about his suspension and his relationship with the President. Addressing those concerns, Zargo said, “I continue to maintain a cordial and unique relationship with the President. He has explicit confidence in me, and I support him 100%.”
Despite the controversy surrounding his dismissal, Zargo expressed gratitude to President Boakai for giving him the opportunity to serve. “I want to use this public medium to thank him, and the chiefs have promised to thank him on my behalf,” he said.