By ANDREW ALPHONSE
SIX policemen were attacked and taken hostage by heavily armed tribesmen in a weekend of high drama in Nipa in the South Highlands province.
However, local leaders successfuly negotiated the release of the six Mendi-based mobile squad 10 members after an hour in captivity last Friday, minus their high-powered rifles and armoury.
Reinforcements led by Deputy Highlands mobile group commander Insp Samson Kua into Nipa the next day to negotiate the surrender of their six colleague gear and an Oil Search Ltd’s vehicle the six had travelled on, erupted into a heavy firefight with local tribesmen.
One tribesmen was reportedly killed in the exchange of fire and one high powered police issue rifle was retrieved.
Acting provincial police commander Insp Benson Osil yesterday confirmed the incident but added that he was still waiting for a detailed report.
He said there was no motive for the attack on police but suggested that it could be linked to the eviction exercise in the Moro oil project site in Lake Kutubu.
Most of illegal settlers are of Hela origin and were being evicted after being accused of perpetrating lawlessness in and around the project sites.
Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi, responded angrily to the attack in Mt Hagen yesterday, saying ‘enough was enough’.
“Police must be empowered to ‘shoot to kill’ any criminal elements or insurgents that continue to terrorise innocent people and the travelling public along our roads.”
Police have issued a travel warning to the public not to travel the highway into Tari and Hela region until further notice as the situation was still tense
Sources in Mendi said yesterday, the first attack occurred at the notorious Nipa section of Highlands Highway between Mendi and Tari last Friday, when the policemen were escorting illegal settlers evicted back to Margarima, Tari and Komo in Hela region.
The travellers and their escort were in a convoy of 12 vehicles and while all the vehicles managed to get through the trouble spot at Nipa, an Oil Search Ltd vehicle in which the six MS 10 members were traveling in was attacked by heavily armed men and taken hostage.
The policemen were not hurt but held captive for about one hour before local leaders negotiated their release. They sought refuge at a road contractor’s camp at Nipa before getting into Tari next day.
On Saturday, reinforcement mobile units from Kerowagi and Mt Hagen flew on an Airlines PNG charter from Mt Hagen into Tari to negotiate for the release of their colleague’s gear and the Oil Search vehicle when they were drawn into a heavy firefight with local tribesmen at Nipa station.
Mr Rambi said for far too long, the country had been talking about ‘curbing lawlessness’ but now we have to ‘fight lawlessness’ to protect the lives and properties of people while at the same time uphold the constitution.
He said lawlessness in Nipa has been rife for too long.
It is sad to see one particular ethnic group holding Southern Highlands and the country at ransom by their ‘lawlessness activities’, he said.
He appealed to the Nipa criminals to return the firearms seized and respect the rule of law and the Constitution of this country.