Seven guards, five settlers injured in clash

 By JUNIOR UKAHA and FEDRICK JEJERI 

SEVEN security guards and five settlers were seriously injured in a fight last Saturday along 10-Mile on the outskirts of Lae.

Lae Met Supt Wagambie Junior could not be reached for comments yesterday but Wampar ward 12 councillor Isaac Tongia told The National on Monday that there was a clash between a group of settlers and guards from a security company on Saturday night.

Tongia said the fighting happened between 7pm and 8pm on Saturday and resumed on Sunday morning around 6am.

He said the Highlands Highway at 10-Mile came to a standstill as settlers and Guard Dog Security Services (GDSS) officers hurled stones and sticks at each other.  

Tongia said the fight started when a drunken youth allegedly terrorised people and swore at them when GDSS officers intervened and tried to calm him down.

Tongia said this had enraged the drunkard who reacted against the guards causing a commotion which turned out into a full brawl involving the settlers and the guards.

“The guards had called for back-up and the about 30 vehicles turned up at the scene,” Tongia said.

“The settlers reacted and mobilised and fighting erupted,” he said. 

He said weapons such as guns, wire catapults, knives, axes and bows and arrows were used in the clash.   

He said the fighting halted briefly and resumed the next morning when both parties were trying to resolve the matter at the 10-Mile field. 

GDSS general manager Peter Aigilo denied that his men were responsible for starting the fight saying they were trying to contain a drunken man who was terrorising members of the public when his friends from the settlement mobilised and attack the guards.

Aigilo said his men radioed for back up and more guards came to secure the premises they were looking after at 10-Mile and to counter the armed attack from the settlers.

“They attacked my men with rocks, knives, guns and wire catapults,” Aigilo said.

“I tried calling the police but no one responded.”

Aigilo said the next day as he was heading to church his guards had to stop him at 10-Mile because the settlers had stoned GDSS vehicles along the highway. 

“Six of our trucks returning to drop off duty guards were stoned.

“This had angered our members who reacted by chasing the settlers.”

Aigilo, a former police commissioner, said the settlers acted violently and the 10-Mile Market area was known for violence. 

“This place (10-Mile area) is known for such opportunistic incidents,” he said.

He said seven guards sustained serious injuries during the clash and vehicles were damaged. 

Aigilo said they have also seized some weapons and uprooted marijuana plants in the area.