The owner of Malolo Inn, MNM Investment Limited, alongside community leaders in Jiwaka Province, voluntarily surrendered six illegal firearms, ammunition, and a live hand grenade to the State on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
This voluntary surrender follows the Operation Kumul Peace awareness campaign, which was officially launched in July 2026 by Clement Dalla, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Highlands Eastern End Command, to remove illicit weapons from various parts of the region.
Jiwaka Provincial Police Commander (PPC), acting Superintendent Laimo Asi, expressed confidence that more individuals across the province will step forward as the awareness efforts continue.
PPC Asi encouraged the residents of Jiwaka to reject the possession of illegal weapons, warning that keeping them has the risk of causing harm, deaths within families, or unnecessary imprisonment.
He noted that handing over these arms will give the community confidence as they prepare for a free, fair, and safe 2027 national general election.
The Operation Kumul Peace awareness campaign and amnesty program on illegal firearms and ammunition began on Monday, July 27, 2026, and is moving forward in three distinct phases.
Phase one focuses on community engagement and awareness, running from July 27 to August 15, 2026.
Phase two is dedicated to the voluntary surrender of illegal arms from August 16 to August 31, 2026.
Phase three marks the final enforcement stage, where police and army personnel from Kumul 23 operating in the upper Highlands will move in to enforce the Terrorism Act and hunt down remaining illegal firearms and ammunition.
Police officers have carried out phase one across three primary zones in Jiwaka:
- Zone 1 covering North Waghi and Jimi districts;
- Zone 2 covering Anglimp, Kuli Kuli, and Kudjip LLGs; and
- Zone 3 covering Minj and East Kambia LLGs.
Awareness sessions have directly targeted Local Level Government (LLG) Presidents, Ward Councillors, and local community leaders, educating them on the legal implications and severe social consequences of maintaining illegal weaponry.
“We have so far targeted the Local Level Government (LLG) Presidents and Ward councillor with the community leaders where the awareness conducted was on the effects of holding onto the illegal firearm in their possession in the communities and their legal implications,” PPC Asi said.
“The main agenda is violence and destruction among the family units, community disturbances and tribal fights where innocent lives are lost.”
He noted that criminals frequently use illegal weapons to carry out violent acts against the public, local businesses, and commuters along the main highway, but he remains convinced that the outreach has successfully reached all corners of the province and will ultimately prove successful for the people of Jiwaka.
