In Jiwaka Province, an arrest over an unroadworthy and overloaded vehicle escalated into a violent confrontation that left a female police officer injured, after the suspect allegedly mobilized his tribesmen to attack a police patrol unit along the Okuk Highway.
The incident began on Saturday, 7 February 2026, at around 4:30pm at Waghi Bruk and later at Rotbum in Minj, when a man was arrested by the Waghi Bruk Police Quick Response Force (QRF) for traffic-related offences.
According to police, the suspect had been driving an unregistered, uninsured and unroadworthy vehicle loaded with coffee cherries and failed to stop at a police roadblock.
JIWAKA Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Acting Superintendent Laimo Asi, confirmed the arrest and subsequent events in a media statement issued on Wednesday, 11 February 2026.
“A man was arrested and charged for four counts of driving un-registered, uninsured, and unroadworthy motor vehicle,” PPC Asi said.
He explained that the suspect drove through the police roadblock without stopping, despite police instructions.
“When the suspect approached the roadblock, he drove through the roadblock without stopping his vehicle,” PPC Asi said. “He was chased and stopped a few meters away from the road and have him arrested at Waghi Bruk for driving unroadworthy vehicle.”
The suspect was taken to Minj Police Station, where he was formally charged and later released on police bail. However, police allege that after his release, the situation took a dangerous turn.
PPC Asi said the suspect “organised his tribesmen and set up a roadblock at Rotbum in Minj along the Okuk highway,” where they intercepted a police patrol unit.
“He stopped a police patrol unit and smashed the vehicle and caused injury to a policewoman,” he said, confirming the attack occurred at around 4:30pm on the same day.
Following the assault, the suspect reportedly went into hiding, prompting police to engage local leaders and issue ultimatums for the surrender of those involved. PPC Asi said an initial deadline was set for Sunday, 8 February 2026.
“I have given ultimate time 4.06pm on Sunday 08th February 2026 for the suspects to surrender and the main instigator surrendered to the police whilst the rest went into hiding,” he said, adding that the main suspect is now in police custody with bail “non-negotiable.”
Police have since escalated the matter, with PPC Asi confirming that the suspect will face serious criminal charges.
“The suspect would be criminally charged for attempted murder, wilful damages and relevant charges under Antiterrorism Act as well,” he said.
A second deadline was issued on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, resulting in further surrenders. According to police, six additional suspects surrendered on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to seven. Three suspects remain outstanding.
“So far, we have seven suspects locked up and they will be criminally responsible for the attack on the police unit,” PPC Asi said. “There are three other suspects still outstanding and they must surrender immediately.”
PPC Asi strongly condemned the attack on police officers, describing it as part of a troubling pattern in the province.
“I will never tolerate such attitude of attack against my police officers in the province,” he said, adding that this was the sixth time police officers, including himself, had been attacked and “this would be the last.”
Police investigations are ongoing, with authorities warning that further arrests are likely as they continue to pursue the remaining suspects linked to the attack on the police patrol and the injured policewoman.
