3 killed in hold-up

The National Main Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THREE men died and one is in hospital when a vehicle they were travelling in with a priest and others was ambushed by 16 armed thugs in West Sepik on Monday.
Provincial police commander Chief Inspector Moses Ibsagi said two men were shot at point blank range in front of the passengers when they tried to resist the attack.
Two died on the spot after being shot in the head.
The third man died in hospital later from knife wounds.
“The passengers which included a Catholic priest and three teachers were on their way from Nuku in West Sepik to Maprik in East Sepik when the 16 men held up the vehicle,” he said.
The incident happened along the Sepik Highway at Wamarau in West Sepik at around 3pm on Monday.
Police are looking for the 16 thugs on the run.
Ibsagi said they were trying to get more information on the incident.
But he was told by the Nuku police station commander that the passengers were robbed of all their possessions.
“The passengers were travelling to Maprik for their daily shopping and sale of vanilla,” he said.
“As they came near a village called Wamarau, the 16 men stopped the vehicle and held up the passengers and crew members.
“The thugs were armed with guns and bush knives.
“During a struggle, the two men were shot on the head and died instantly.
“Two passengers received knife wounds.
“One of them succumbed to his wound at the Maprik hospital.
“The other is recovering.”

25 comments

  • Tragic and sad, a sign for more policing on our remote highways. Community policing at the community level must increase to stop such criminal behavior. Everybody is struggling to make a living, even the people at the village level, their hard earn cash should not be taken away from them in such a way. Otherwise allow licensed firearms to be carried by PMV owners and regular highway travelers to protect themselves from such low life. Just shoot to kill.

  • This is becoming a normal plight for us the people of West Sepik whilst our leaders are busying themselves in National politics and Waigani’s chest-beating competition. Just last month or so another young business man was shot death again coming over from Aitape to East Sepik for business when he was shot dead. Aitape is ideally located and has great potential if only the kings leave their thrones and come see for themselves. Aitape, Nuku and Lumi people literally contribute towards East Sepik’s internal revenue. Why can’t Pruiatch, Sungi, Namah, Mirisim and Wouwou see the great economic potential and open roads to Vanimo and Aitape, our coastal port townships. The people are desperate enough to risk their lives traveling these roads that are fast becoming as criminal-infested roads because of high cash flow from our side. Something for the idiot leaders to ponder

    • The kings as you referred to are unable to change our attitudes overnight. But they can make laws around parenting responsibilities so we end up with good kids, restore policing service to rural areas and empowering all areas economically so everybody earns money.

  • Very sad to read this news,the nearby communities must work together to identify the culprits and hand them over to face the law for inhuman actions by taking innocent lives away,very and my condolences to the immediate families members..

  • This are signs of consumed heavily drugs don’t have mercy in them. find them, arrest them and shoot them in jail for life and never allow ball to any of them. Blurry idiots keep spoiling our country name.

  • We have no External treat…Internal Security treat is the biggest treat to this Nation . As such our Military laws must be changed and military MUST be sent to hunt or fight this internal enemy to our people and the country. Instead of being trained and doing nothing. Send them to remote areas to hunt down such people in order to maintain and up skilling their skills and protect our country from such animals.

  • Animalistic act our soldiers should hunt those animals in Sepik and get rid of them in our society

  • Inhumane which rarely happened in this part of ESP. Sorry for the deceased and their families in this horror, a tragedy ensued to live a honest life. Societal collapse brewing lazy opportunistic. A mobile police barracks in Maprik is a must or engaged Momem Barracks Army to continuously patrol this highway all the way to West Sepik.

  • These thugs do not deserve to live and enjoy life, send them to a zoo to live amongst the apes and monkeys..

  • That’s a terrible news. Please, get these culprits and let them be sentenced to death. Enough of such in PNG. Let us not tolerate such practice. Catch these culprits and let the world know that there is justice for such inhuman act.

  • So SORRY for the loss of lives.
    Amos 8: 4-7 I pray God that you will hear the cry of the grieving sons and daughters who lost their fathers due to the greed of lazy evil people.
    May you bring justice swiftly upon those wicked people as you have stated. You will not forget the actions of the wicked who steals from your poor people.

  • We want justice for this innocent sepik lives…..the Police must prioritize this case and work with the community ASAP to apprehend these culprits. They should not be given leniency regardless of who pulled the trigger. They dont belong in our community these cold blooded muders.

  • Very sorry and sad news for the families of those who lost their lives in such a way.Families were expecting something good from their fathers after coming back from their sales but it turned sour to them. May God comfort all the families of those who lost their lives.They took their belongings and why killed them???.

  • The plight of the most remote and rural people must be kept at heart by elected people sitting on authority

    In any form of development social security is a paramount component over government priorities and are rightfully expressed by disgruntled communities that needed immediate government attention

    As one expressed Community Policing is a appropriate mechanized to apply in completing Law and Order in the communities in the absent of the regular policing due to cost
    In the other approach of development is settle light township and commercial centres in every Districts and Electorates to hold business expansion and growth

    Such many compounding problems if our Local MPs are calculating their minds enough
    But we contempt in the most highest tone of contamination to the thugs and most uncivilized primitive barbaric behaviour of all

    From: Human Rights Legal Support Centre
    Community Help Desk
    Author: DENNIS H. MARUS

  • Authorities should order a man hunt with shoot to kill order. Those rascals will continue to rib and kill people if there is no reaction. They are worse than animals. Their brain cells have been burned by drugs that’s why they don’t care injuring or shooting people. Just shoot and kill them in the spot. Only with such a heavy reaction by the public and authorities will rascals be intimidated.

  • Very sad scenario. Why attacking your province/country men in such a barbaric manner..?..These thugs deserve severe penalty.

  • Release a shoot to kill order to our defence force and let them in there and hunt them down
    Very simple way to send fear message to stop this habit anymore

  • My prayer goes to everyone, victims of this nonsense act by our own selfish citizens. But also seek forgiveness for those who acted this way. This accident just one of many happenings in the remote areas should not be taken lightly by our leaders and Government. Police and army should be called out to search for the culprits and bring them to justice. Our rural hard working people deserve better like everyone leaving in cities and towns.

  • This shows that the country needs more police personal inorder to minimise such incedents.

  • Be stil and know that he realities of life are so real so does the prophesies of real life ahead as foretold by the Master Designer, God himself that the wars and rumors of wars will come upon us in these days and age. It is happening all round us every moment of our lifes. Men has turned into animals and saveges beyond believe. At best we can do, alert alert na wokabaut, ai na yau and ol sense blong filings must be turned on at all times. Our heart goes for those in such situations

  • This type of behavior is only in Nuku District. Vanimo Green River and Telefomin Districts Okay. Aitape not sure because more influences from East Sepik. Honourable Sungi completely neglecting this people because this holdup prolonged many times. Even though the governor Wouwou is neglecting. Very own but is suffering.

  • Could the authorities release the names of the deceased, especially the teachers so png can know, they are our family members and friends, just to clear the air. Could you kindly releases the name for the sake of their friends and colleagues….

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