Madang Provincial Police Commander

Madang Provincial Police Commander, Mazuc Rubiang issued this warning after an Isuzu dyna carrying betelnut sellers from the Highlands, collided with a container truck at Kessowai, along the Lae-Madang Highway last Friday.

“Luckily no one died in the accident. Police officers travelling along the highway saw the accident and quickly reported it to Walium and Ramu police officers to attend to the scene in fear of opportunists harming the drivers and passengers,” PPC Rubiang said. 

Madang Provincial Police Commander, Mazuc Rubiang warned passengers who wish to travel by sea to take extra care when out at sea or consider the weather before travelling.

PPC Rubiang said while travelling this morning he and his team experienced rough seas due to bad weather. He said many people have died during rough seas and warned small boat operators to stop going out. 

Madang provincial police commander, Ben Neneo, says police and Correctional Service officers are searching for the five, who were placed on death row mid this year for the massacre of seven people in 2014.

They are part of the eight-man group that was sentenced to life in prison for hacking their victims to death over sorcery-related allegations in Ramu.

“That was the decision made by Justice David Cannings; those were the five. So we are trying our best to locate them,” stated Neneo.

Madang Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector Ben Neneo, confirmed the killing is yet to get a full report on the incident.

PPC Neneo further said police are yet to establish the motive behind the incident.

Meantime, the father of the deceased, Governor Peter Yama, has condemned the killing of his son.

He said the manner in which his son was killed was gruesome and he believed it was meant for him.

He added that his son, who was mentally unstable, did not deserve to be killed in such a manner.

“The immediate dismissal and replacement of the provincial police commander was among the demands raised by the people of Madang in the petition that was presented on April 17,” spokesperson Kamal Naus told Loop PNG.

“A few days after the incident (beheading of the teacher), hooligans gathered at Handy Mart, which is about a hundred metres away from the provincial government office and police station, and started harassing people.

Three youth were shot at Gum Bridge, outside of Madang town, while another was killed at Four-Mile during the recent unrest.

PPC Neneo said his officers were retaliating to save one of their colleagues, who was attacked by the locals.

He clarified that the police officer, who was from that area, was driving to Madang town from his village when that incident happened.

Chief Inspector Ben Neneo says police are monitoring specific locations and the highway to make sure the security of the people is maintained.

Neneo however told this newsroom that the situation was also instigated by certain leaders that provoked local people to take part in a protest calling for the removal of settlers.

"I will not allow for a protest until everything is sorted and normalcy is fully restored to the province."

He added that currently mobile squad 13 is monitoring the situation.