Man, family escape from gang members

A man and his family have left their home and have sought refuge in other locations after Hetwara gang members’ attempt to rape his 10-year-old daughter at Madang’s Nankina valley in Raicoast last week, according to police.
Madang police commander Acting Supt Mazuc Rubiang said the family had left the village because of the attempted rape incident and the fighting between members of Hetwara gang and resistance groups at Nankina valley.
He said police also received reports that two members of Hetwara gang were shot and seriously wounded by a resistance group
from Taip village on Wednesday, April 6.
After receiving this report, another resistance group from Mibu went to Kwovan where the two victims were being nursed by their relatives.
He said from what the police had gathered, the Hetwara gang came from a very remote village called Daik in Nankia area of Nayudo local level government in Raicoast district of Madang.
The gang had more than 50 active members scattered throughout Nankina and had been operating in Nankina since 2019.
“It was responsible for causing massive atrocities that included destruction of properties, unlawful killings, kidnapping for ransoms, unlawful detentions, abductions, rapes, robberies and many other crimes.”
“Last December, the gang attacked and completely destroyed seven villages and displaced more than 1,000 families.
“The gang also killed two men and a five-year-old boy who tried to save her sister from being abducted by the gang members and seriously wounded several other innocent people.
“The gang also abducted five young school girls, ages between 16 and 20, raped and married them.”
Rubiang said the villages affected were identified as Mibu, Yopbo, Sewan, Gumbayong, Miok, Gwarawon, Gakwak, Kwovan, Dagre, Langani, Mambit and Davang.
Langani and Davang were in Saidor local level government.
The gang tried to attack Taip village but faced strong resistance and suffered two casualties.