N’dranou applauds WNB police

National

A senior officer has applauded police in West New Britain after they arrested eight suspects for being in possession of illegal firearms last Sunday at Waganakai village in Talasea.
Asst Comm/ACP of Police New Guinea Islands (NGI) Perou N’dranou said: “This operation was timely, especially during this election period as police personnel now have a prime goal of delivering a free, fair and safe election.”
It was alleged that the suspects aged between 15 and 29 from Rongo clan were part of a gang that had allegedly murdered a youth from another clan using an AR15 colt rifle earlier this year.
As a result, tensions arose between clans and the villages.
In April, a family home belonging to one of the suspects (now deceased) was burnt by a rival clan where parts of the alleged AR15 colt rifle was found.
The gang, however, refused to surrender to police and were on the run, torching houses and threatening the livelihood of neighbouring villages using firearms.
The community leaders then approached provincial police commander Chief Insp John Iara and requested for police to intervene.
Just two weeks ago, Iara issued a directive to the Mobile Squad 18 members to conduct a special operation to arrest the suspects and retrieve the weapons.