Wagambie plans ‘shoot-to-kill’ raids

POLICE in Madang will soon launch a “shoot-to-kill” operation, provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Jr said yesterday.
A similar planned operation in neighbouring Morobe province last month was halted by Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga, saying he was not consulted beforehand.
However, in open defiance Wagambie announced that his operation would target those who were found in possession of offensive weapons.
He made the comments while calling on Madang Governor James Gau and administrator Bernard Lange to take a tougher stance on settlers in the public tank area or have them evicted.
Wagambie made the call after he was held up by more than 15 youths armed with guns and bush knives at Mero Bridge last Friday.
He said he was driving an unmarked vehicle when he was confronted by the armed youths.
“Luckily, I had my service revolver with me and I managed to fire two shots,” he said.
“I can confirm that two suspects were wounded in the process and ran off into the nearby bushes.”
He said the youths in the area were a nuisance to the community by throwing stones on vehicles and harassing people.
“They have not been cooperating with police and they have to go,” he said.
“I call on the local leaders in the area to address the on-going law and order problems occurring in the area by their youths and do something about it.”
Wagambie said the provincial government had to seriously address the people’s plight in the area or have the settlers evicted permanently.
“I urge all parents to take heed of these warnings,’’ he said.
“Police will soon mount a shoot-to-kill operation on those found to be in possession of offensive weapons.”
He said unmarked vehicles would be used in the operation.