A fight started between Gigo and Laleki youths in West New Britain Province on the 10th April, 2022 when youths from Laleki stole a mobile phone belonging to a youth who resides at Gigo.
According to West New Britain Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector John Iara, the youths from Gigo then mobilised and crossed over to Laleki where the fight erupted at around 8pm.
Port Moresby based Mobile Squad 3 (MS03) was deployed to West New Britain Province to assist boost police manpower over the weekend where a total of 167 arrests were made in the early hours of this morning during a dawn raid conducted by the Kimbe Police with the help of Mobile Squad 18 (MS18) and Mobile Squad 19 (MS19).
“These (arrests) are mainly youths and juveniles that were involved in the fight resulting in 14 houses being burnt down and 2 deaths.”
“These suspects have only been charged with Group Fighting as we still don’t have evidence to link them to arson and murder charges,” said the West New Britain Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector John Iara.
PPC Iara added that during the dawn raid, a suspect in possession of marijuana at a street value of K3000 was also apprehended and charged. He further added that there were also 6 charged for being in possession of firearms.
PPC Iara commended his men for their tireless efforts in controlling the situation and further advised that his Investigators are working overtime to get the Court Information done and ready for Courts this morning.