Thugs terrorise Alotau
By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
GUNFIRE erupted in Alotau, Milne Bay, over two nights last week in what police said was “power play” by notorious criminal Tommy Maeva Baker’s gang members and another group of thugs.
Provincial police commander Supt Peter Barkie said: “It’s a power struggle with one group led by the second in command of Baker, Michael ‘Mekere’ Yawi, and the other group we are yet to establish their leader.
“This confrontation occurred at a street in Alotau called Garuboi with the two groups facing each other.
“We have the top of Garuboi where it is alleged Yawi holds power, while the second group is said to run the lower side of the street.”
Police said on Wednesday between 9pm and 1.30am, heavy gunfire was heard across Alotau, instilling fear among residents who kept indoors but there were no casualties.
“For four hours gunfire continued, we are aware that both groups hold firepower and that was shown on the first night,” Supt Barkie said.
“On Thursday, it started between 10pm and 11pm but police rushed to the area and the gunfire stopped, police left and it started again.
“Police returned after midnight and remained in the area, conducting foot patrol along the street.”
Searches on the street on Thursday and Friday yielded no clue as to what had transpired the night before. Police continue to monitor the situation.
The shooting occurred almost two years after police, in pursue of Baker’s gang, stormed the Kitava Compound, shooting dead 86-year-old woman Rodha Dick.
At least one other person was injured in that incident in December 2018 and many told The National how they had feared for their lives.
20 comments
No longer peaceful Alotau.. second cowboy country in PNG
Oh my once sleepy Alotau…now a gangland town, in fact the whole of Milne Bay is at the mercy of criminals, both on land and water. The government must save MB if it is to continue with its tourist province tag!
Alotau and whole of MB under seize….no longer tourist province!
No, Alotau is not called a Cow boy country & it never was. A person is not a criminal till they are proven guilty. I think, in order for these types of activities to stop is maybe the government should provide more job opportunities & try to find ways to decrease costs of living.
Prices of goods in Alotau is very high because Asians are dominating almost every business arm.
It is not their fault that they are in this situation but whatever it was, the police must continue to monitor Garuboi street & try to ensure safety for the community because a lot of cases were never attended to by the police.
I think money & jobs will divert the minds of people once they are busy with money in their pockets. So in the event, unwanted social behavior will not be encountered in the community.
concerned citizen
Alotau
Gee Kevron, you sound like you are one of them.
Are you saying that those guys using guns illegally are not criminals?
How can the government create jobs in this econmic crisis situation? There are no jobs and emploers are cutting down staff and some are already closing.
Stop blaming the Asians who deserve to be business and they have served Milne Bay well where all the nationals are not able to.
Those guys with guns at Garuboi street need to be flushed out by the Police who are the authority. Where are the mobile squad that are based? They are suppose to be protecting public who paying for their living from the public purse and not to be harassing the.
Alotau is not a big town, it only takes minutes to go from one end of Garuboi street to the other. What an embarassing site with the Police. Might as well leave the guns and go home and leave the town to the criminals.
Need Police Riot Squad to go down to Alotau; raid, burn the houses and apprehend those criminals and whoever that is accomodating them and send them to jail.
The government negligence to it’s citizen has taken tall, not long others will join in to fight against govt forces for a revolution to week out corruption once and for all.
Don’t negotiate with thugs and criminals.
For the sake of the good, peace loving people of Alotau, just send more police personnel down and flush these pests out once and for all.
Send Police re-enforcement down to Alotau address the issues once and for all.
Laziness breeds crimes … They can do something productive on the land or even fish from the sea to sell and earn an honest income.
Olgeta taim Tok Government, Government na ol Mama blo u ha. Don’t try to blame the government, lazy people.
Grown ups, think out of the box and utilise whatever resources that you have to sustain your self.
“It’s a power struggle”. Wondering what kind of power are we referring to or are they after??
Send the police and the army and maybe some city rangers. They are always acting tough on us citizens. Let them show their true strength and toughness with real gangsters.
Police were never there during those two nights. The MS 20 contingent was nowhere to be seen when their sole purpose in Alotau is to apprehend Tommy Baker and his accomplices. All the gang members they are after were there during the two nights yet Police never did anything let alone “patrol” the street.
Police is brought down on it;s knees by a few thugs. I was led to believe that the arms of the Government are long. It is reported otherwise.
If the Police cannot contain a law and order issue, then another civil war like that of AROB would be a disaster already. Brace fort more successions.
which one is first?
Kevron, you are so stupid to defend Alotau that is becoming more was than Tari. TNTs are more peaceful than your little MB size.
It makes one wonder if Police have any new ideas to combat crime. They just seem to run out of ideas. Too much depending on the power of guns without using tactics. Maybe lack of proper training also affected performance.
For the safety of all people in Alotau and Milne Bay Province as a whole, send more police and military personnel to assist- defeat these so cold gangs that are affecting the lives of people and disturbing the peace in Alotau town.
If this people think something is not right than tell them to come out boldly to the rightful people and talk over the matter. Stop hiding behind the dark corners like crooks instigating fear among general public and painting bad picture for the province. Stop being cowards.
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