Stand-off leaves Wewak town in chaos

WEWAK township, in East Sepik province, was thrown into chaos on Saturday following a stand-off between youths from a government compound and Guard Dog security personnel.
All shops in town closed as owners feared possible looting by opportunists.
Now police have begun investigation into the stand-off.
Provincial police commander Chief Supt Joe Poma said yesterday he had instructed police detectives to go right to the root of the problem and investigate both parties.
Poma said the trouble started with an attempted break and enter and theft in the mangroves behind Garamut and Ela Motors.
He said that had been disturbed and suspects pursued by security guards into the compound area.
The guards in pursuit ended up in an area where a group of people were drinking and there was a scuffle in which a security guard was injured.
The guards retaliated and attacked two youths from the area. The youths are recovering in hospital.
Police have reported a break-in on Church Street, Wewak, early yesterday morning.
Poma said thieves armed with pinch bar forced open the door to the Hungo Ltd office next to The National’s Wewak office and made away with three compu­ters, a printer and a facsimile machine.
Police have recovered a computer and said they knew who the suspects were.