Four (4) students from Naweab Lutheran Secondary School in Morobe province are expected to be formally charged following a break-in at the girls’ dormitory last week, police say. The Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent Jacob Singura said eight (8 people, including outsiders, entered the dormitory’s common area during night study hours. The group reportedly stole mobile phones that the female students had left charging. “There were about eight of them. Four students have been apprehended and will be processed today,” Supt Singura confirmed. The remaining suspects are still being tracked as police continue patrols and investigations at the school.
Author: Martha LOUIS
Students at Ragiampun SDA Primary School in Morobe’s Markham District have turned classroom lessons into real-life solutions by building a small market to support their families and community. Led by assistant teacher Mr. Jacob Sani, the Grade 7 class took on the project as part of their “Making a Living” subject under Basic Technology. They learned practical skills like measuring, planning, and basic construction—working as a team to bring the idea to life. “For years, mothers sold food on the ground without proper hygiene,” Mr. Sani said. “We wanted to change that.” With support from the school, students helped design…
A group of armed men attacked Nawaeb Lutheran Secondary School on Thursday night. They entered the female dormitory and held the students at gunpoint. A Grade 10 student said the girls had just finished their exam and were inside the dormitory. She said the men stole their phones and started beating them with sticks and knives. The attackers locked the dormitory doors, and the girls screamed for help after after which male students and staff responded and chased the men away. Eight injured female students were taken to Angau Hospital and a male student was also hurt while trying to…
Raikos Secondary School in Rai Coast District of Madang province is facing growing pressure as more students enroll each year. Deputy Principal for Administration, Bangan Siwo, says the school has more than 1,000 students from Grade 9 to Grade 12 this year. But there are only 30 teachers — three short of the number needed. This means one teacher is looking after around 56 students. Subjects like IT, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Music are not taught. Mr. Siwo says this is because the school does not have the right classrooms or facilities. He said the general classrooms are enough,…
The official search for a missing boat off the coast of Madang has been called off after 72 hours, according to the PNG Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (PNGMRCC). Captain Tony Dibul, Madang Rapid Response Network Coordinator, confirmed that the formal operation ended after the standard three-day period. However, local families are still searching with their own resources. “We’re doing everything we can to help organize fuel to support their local effort,” Dibul said. He added that notices have been issued for coastal communities and vessels at sea to remain alert for any signs. Meanwhile, John Newton Ariku, founder of the…
The struggling Madang Provincial Hospital has received new medical equipment and essential supplies to improve patient care thanks to the kind generosity of business houses. The first being the BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) where the bank’s Madang Branch Manager, Mary Koi presented the equipment during a small ceremony. The items included a brand-new ECG machine, an electric suction machine, and an electric hospital bed. The medical equipment is estimated to cost K50,000. Acting CEO of the Madang Provincial Health Authority (PHA), Dr Sammy Thomas, accepted the donation on behalf of the hospital. The donation was specifically made for the…
A human rights lawyer has vowed to fight for justice after a mother and her young daughter were allegedly assaulted and unlawfully detained by employees of a foreign-owned retail business in Madang over a disputed bag of rice. Laken Lepatu Aigilo, the lawyer representing the victims, confirmed that six individuals—including three Chinese nationals and three employees —have been criminally charged with Serious Assault and Unlawful Deprivation of Liberty. The accused made their first appearance at the Madang Committal Court on Monday, with police confirming that investigations have been completed. “This was a case of gross injustice,” Aigilo said. “The mother…
A remote primary school in Morobe Province is facing closure after its only reliable transport route — the Imane Airstrip — was shut down due to safety concerns. According to Head Teacher Mrs. Nosalyn Yalambing Agula of Imane Primary School, SIL Aviation has suspended its flights after pilots flagged serious safety risks. The airstrip lacks enough cone markers needed for safe landings, leaving the community stranded. “SIL says we need 18 cone markers, but we only have three. Without those, pilots can’t land safely. This means no more flights, and no more supplies,” Mrs. Agula explained. For years, Imane Primary…
A bulb onion farming project in the Markham District is helping villagers improve their livelihoods and farming knowledge through a unique collaboration. Led by the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNG UoT), the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA), and the Markham Smart Farmers group, the initiative is training locals in bulb onion cultivation — a crop that has high market value and strong potential in rural areas. Local leader and farmer Charles Edward Narjo has been at the forefront of this effort, working closely with development partners to get the project off the ground. “Our aim is simple —…
After evading police for nearly three years, a man wanted for multiple armed robberies in Madang has voluntarily surrendered to the authorities just recently. Ethrel Mathew, also known as Scott Bradley Duh, gave himself up at Jomba Police Station on Thursday, May 22. Originally from Numboku Village in Kubalia, East Sepik Province, the 24-year-old was accompanied by family members and community policing officers from Zone 03 under the Madang Urban Local Level Government (MULLG). Madang Provincial Police Commander Acting Superintendent Robert Baim confirmed the arrest and commended those involved in facilitating the surrender. “Mathew has long been identified as a…