Central man in critical condition after Magi Highway attack

 A MAN is fighting for his life and two others wounded after they were attacked at a road-block along the Magi Highway in Central last Friday.

Police said about 16 men armed with home-made guns and bush knives set up the road block between Kwikila and Saroa Keina Village around 10pm and attacked a public motor vehicle transporting passengers from Port Moresby to Kwikila. 

Provincial police commander Supt John Maru said the gang surrounded the bus, smashed the windscreens before entering and started threatening the passengers with the bush knives. 

He said Bagini Bagini of Maopa Village, Aroma coast, received serious knife wounds to his neck and was rushed to the Port Moresby General Hospital.

He said passengers Waga Poita and Allan Moki also received injuries to their arms and were taken to hospital.

Maru said a cheque for K12,000, cash, mobile phones and other valuables belonging to the crew and the passengers were taken by the criminals who fled when police arrived. 

He, however, said two men believed to be part of the gang were arrested later and were being questioned by police.

“Another 14 are yet to be rounded up,” he said.

Maru said police would get all of them adding that  criminals would be held accountable for their actions. 

He asked the people of Central to assist police with  investigations.