In what was described as the biggest surrender in the Yangoru- Sausia district of the East Sepik province, a large number of youths turned in their guns, homebrew making equipment and even themselves to police just recently. The youths from the Kwarabri village of East Yangoru Local Level Government (LLG) surrendered and made peace with the police on Friday 01st September, witnessed by the local Member of Parliament and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru. The youths led by Paramount Chief, Joseph Legimani, surrendered two gas bottles for brewing steam, 21 guns, and 24 people to the police. From the 24 people, one was an escapee and 23 were suspects who were involved in the clash with police, four of whom were women. They also gave K2, 000 to the police as an apology for the clash. According to State Lawyer, Enoch Manihambu, it took him and the leaders of Kwarabri about two months to convince these 24 people to surrender, and also to have the village to surrender their guns. Because of the gun battle incident between the youths from Kwarabri and the police, the Yangoru-Saussia District Development Authority (DDA) brought over Mobile Squad 15 from Bulolo in Morobe Province, who have been doing a very good job so far. “We had to bring the Mobile Squad because of the issue that you created. It did not cost us thousands but millions of Kina. The funds for other services and developments for the district is being diverted into law-and-order. So, be serious about this surrender and peace program. I do not want to hear of any more law-and-order issues in Kwarabri,” said Maru. Mr. Maru also announced to the people of Kwarabri and everyone who gathered to attend the peace program that police officers will be here to stay. “The first 16 rooms at the new Yangoru Mobile Barracks have been completed, so I have requested PPC (Provincial Police Commander) Superintendent Christopher Tamari for 16 new permanent troops for Yangoru-Saussia to be brought to the district so we can cut down on the cost of bringing in foreign troops.” “We will have all 45 policemen and women in the district once all the houses in the Mobile Barracks are completed. This is part of our drive to bring down law-and-order issues in the district so we can bring in more services and attract investors to the district,” said Maru. The MP also thanked the 24 people for doing the right thing by surrendering themselves to the police. “Thank you for surrendering, you will now be in the custody of the police. The police are not allowed to beat any of you because you have done the right thing to surrender with the assurance that you will be dealt with properly. You will be taken by the police, processed, charged, and the court system will deal with you.” Maru then encouraged other communities in the district to follow the fine example set by Kwarabri village. “Let us clean-up Yangoru-Saussia and prepare ourselves to embrace new services and development, which the DDA and the National Government want to bring here," said Maru.