UNDP vehicle hijacked in Bougainville

A UNITED Nations vehicle was hijacked in Bougainville at the weekend.
Benson Singko, the son of former Bougainville Revolutionary Army second in command, the late James Singko, allegedly hijacked the UN Development Programme (UNDP) vehicle in South Bougainville.
The 10-seater Toyota Landcruiser was engaged by the newly created Office of Peace and Reconciliation, and was in the area for a peace meeting with the locals there.
According to reports reaching The National’s office in Buka, Singko demanded the keys to the car from the UN driver and drove it away.
He was reportedly unhappy that although he was the son of one of the revolutionary army’s founders, he was not being recognised by those in authority.
It is understood that a meeting was set up at a remote village to enable Singko and his accomplices to snatch the vehicle from the peace office team.
They had expected the team to arrive in a Government vehicle but instead only one UN vehicle arrived for the meeting.
The driver told The National from Arawa last night that they were outnumbered by six people armed with bush knives and grass knives.
ABG President James Tanis has appealed to Singko and his accomplices to immediately return the UNDP vehicle without any conditions.