Police on Operation in Western Province to rescue kidnapped woman
POLICE Commissioner David Manning has confirmed police in Western have recovered the remains of one of two females who were recently taken hostage by gunmen in Haiyafuli Village, Mogulu.
In a statement Manning said a coordinated police operation is underway in Western Province and police are focusing efforts on locating and rescuing the second of the two kidnapped females.
“This is an ongoing operation in which police are pursuing dangerous criminals and one had already been shot by police,” said Commissioner Manning.
Initially the police report suggested that the two women were mother and daughter. They were taken hostage last week by armed gunmen who passed through their village and demanded compensation before their safe return.
However, police have since recovered the remains believed to be of one of the women. At this stage, the police cannot identify who of the two the remains belong to.
“Our main priority is the safety and recovery of the young girl they have taken, and police will use every lawful and necessary means to bring her out alive,” said Manning.
The remote village of Haiyafuli in Western province shares land boundaries with Mt. Bosavi in the Southern Highlands and Komo in the Hela Province.
In the last six years these communities have been terrorized by gunmen who have been passing through the villages for several years now.
In February 2023 a New Zealand professor and two of his colleagues were taken captive near Mt. Bosavi by gunmen believed to be from Hela Province. The gunmen held them captive for at least a week before they were released unharmed.
In July of 2023, 17 girls from a community near Mt. Bosavi were also taken hostage by gunmen believed to be from the same group from Komo. These school girls were rescued by police and taken to Southern Highlands.
When InsidePNG spoke to the community in Mt. Bosavi, they said they live in fear because of the gang who continue to terrorize them, assault their girls and take their pigs.
The absence of a police station and lack of proper mobile coverage makes it difficult for villagers to inform police quickly. The closest police station in this region is the Moro Police station but it would take at least two whole days to walk to Moro to report the matter.
In this recent incident, Manning said these criminals need to understand that their only path to survival is to immediately release this girl unharmed and surrender to Police.
“Specialist Police are on their trail, and where unlawful weapons are used or innocent lives are threatened, Police are authorised to respond decisively and without hesitation to save life,” said Manning.
The coordinated police response remains ongoing, with Police focused on one offender who was already shot and killed during the police response.
“Specialist tactical police are tracking them, and they should be under no illusion about the consequences if they resist or continue to threaten innocent life. One has already been killed, and others will face the same fate if they choose violence over surrender,” said Manning.
“I thank the communities that have supported the police in our efforts to rescue these girls, and I ask you to maintain your vigilance and continue working with police. The men responsible for these kidnappings and murder have brought shame on their families and our people, and they must receive no shelter, no support, and no silence from any community,” said Manning.
Locals in the area have been advised to come forward with information to help police capture the gang responsible.
