Police urge armed suspects to surrender

POLICE want 12 suspects in relation to the death of a cocoa farmer in East Sepik on Monday to surrender because police know them.
Timothy Miroi Jnr, 33, from Malol village in West Sepik, was travelling back to Aitape from Wewak when he was shot.
The incident took place along the Makopin-Smain section of the Simogun highway at around 4pm on Monday.
Police said the suspects were allegedly armed with rifles and grass knives and attempted to stop and rob the vehicle Miroi was driving.
East Sepik commander Supt Albert Beli said identities of the suspects were known to police and a 10-man team would be stationed at the But village.
Supt Beli said he met with councillors from Makopin and Smain villages and both assured to work with police to put an end to the lawlessness in the area.
Makopin and Smain villages were understood to have been the centre of destruction and killings recently over a prolonged land dispute.
Supt Beli said he wanted to see the two villages come to a truce and ceasefire as innocent people and travellers had been held at ransom because of their conflict.
He said the highway connected the two provinces (East and West Sepik) and had to be free of attempted holdups and robberies.
Supt Beli urged locals in this west coast part East Sepik to report criminals or make citizens arrests as what people from Maprik and Yangoru Saussia had been doing to help police.