Classes at William V.S. Tubman High School in Sinkor were suspended on Thursday after students and staff discovered a mysterious blood stain near the school’s entrance, causing alarm and speculation only weeks into the new academic year.
The stain was first seen early Thursday on 12th Street, at the main gate of the public secondary school. Eyewitnesses described the sight as “confusing and frightening”, prompting administrators to suspend lessons until Monday, 29 September.
“We were confused when we came across this early this morning. We didn’t know what to do,” said Payvah Morlue, a Tubman High student. “Up to now, we haven’t received any information about what led to the incident. We are waiting for the outcome of the investigation by the administration.”
MCSS and Police Investigate
The Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS), which manages Tubman High, confirmed the closure and said it had begun an investigation alongside the Liberia National Police. MCSS Communications Director Samuel Nyenuh reported that initial information from campus security suggested the stain might have resulted from an attempted burglary during the night.
“The security informed us that the alleged thieves escaped after a pursuit, which may have caused the blood to be left at the scene,” Nyenuh told *The Liberian Investigator*. “We have notified the Liberia National Police, and an investigation is underway to determine what transpired.”
In a statement, MCSS expressed “immense concern” and urged the public to avoid spreading rumours while the facts are being established. “The acting superintendent, Dr Augurie E. Stevens, was at the scene this morning to ascertain the facts, offer support and monitor the situation,” the statement read. “To ensure the safety of our students, William V.S. Tubman High School will remain closed until Sunday, 28 September, pending the outcome of the investigation. Classes will resume on Monday, 29 September.”
Rumours of Ritual Motives
While school officials point to a possible criminal incident, rumours among students have suggested a spiritual or ritualistic explanation. Some claimed that a prophecy had warned of an impending tragedy.
“This was not just any stain,” said one student who asked not to be named. “One girl prophesied something bad was going to happen today. A group of us went to Samuel Johnson’s house, and when we got there, he had a deep cut on his hand. He said he wasn’t coming to school because his life was spiritually targeted.”
Johnson, reportedly a student at Tubman High, confirmed in a video shared with classmates that he had been injured, though he declined to explain how it happened. Authorities have not confirmed any link between his injury and the blood stain.
MCSS stated it will release the investigation’s findings once they are complete. “We understand the anxiety this has caused, especially at the start of the school year,” Nyenuh said. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of the students. We encourage everyone to remain calm and await the results of the investigation.”
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
