Madang

Lone survivor speaks out

The lone survivor has spoken out about the ordeal that he and his passengers faced when the six armed men happened upon them on the evening of January 13.

Simea said they were all forced off the boat, and the armed robbers made off with the boat and belongings.

Simea recalled that around 3pm he left Madang Town with eight passengers for Saidor. He said while they were travelling towards Tabali Point, they saw another 23-footer boat some distance away. Passengers on that boat were signaling him to stop. It was about 5pm already.

Bad Road Conditions Affect Travelling Public

The toughest is getting past Gawar Market and the Iguruwe section of the highway onto Lae or the Highlands provinces.

Police officers from Madang and Walium had been patrolling that section of the road making sure travelers are getting through safely, and assisting vehicles where they can.

According to passengers and police officers frequenting this highway, the road needs a machine to divert rain water to the side of the road so that the main road is dry and easy to pass through.

Stop overloading: Rubiang

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. 

30 Homes Razed Over Road Mishap

According to Madang police, the villagers from Dogea mobilized and set fire to the houses at around 7am yesterday, belonging to settlers from the Usino area.

Madang Provincial Police Commander, Mazuc Rubiang said the incident was over the death of a Grade six student from Dogea Primary School, two weeks ago.

PPC Rubiang said the student was drunk and travelling on a PMV when he allegedly fell off the moving vehicle and died. The driver of the PMV is believed to be a settler at the block.

Police Rescues Passengers At Sea

They were travelling from Raicoast to Madang when the boats experienced shortage of fuel and were floating outside Kalibobo when Water Police rescued them yesterday morning.

Madang Provincial Police Commander, Mazuc Rubiang said police officers were alerted when the boats were seen floating out at open sea. Water police were alerted to rescue the boats with fuel and the other boat was towed to Madang town.

He said all passengers were safe including their properties. PPC Rubiang said many people had become victims of boat mishaps. 

Dead Body Found At Sea

Madang Provincial Police Commander, Mazuc Rubiang said police were alerted of the dead body found floating in the sea by villagers.

He said police quickly arrived at the scene and retrieved the body with assistance from Sek rural hospital medical staff.

The body is now at the Modilon General Hospital morgue in Madang town. Police said the man’s identity is yet to be made known but is believed to be from the coastal area.

PPC Rubiang said if anyone in Madang have been looking for their relative, they can contact the Madang police to assist them verify the body. 

‘Great Story For The Nation’

Director of the foundation, Vincent Kumura, described it as a “great story for the nation” at the conclusion of their program on the 29th of December.

Trekkers made up of medical officers, community health worker (CHW) students and members of the Kumura Foundation concluded their Travel2Change rural outreach program on the 27th of December in the Ramu Valley plains.

From there, they made their way to Madang Resort, where they set up camp at ‘Sugeng Aben’.

Yama visits Rai Coast; commits funding

Governor Yama also announced a K2 million price subsidy for coffee, cocoa and copra to help local farmers.

The governor then visited Umboldi Village, a half day walking distance from Saidor station. In 2019 during the Kangal Festival in Rai Coast, the Governor gave them K50,000 and they used it to build a double classroom.

An impressed Governor Yama committed K100,000 again for a new double classroom and a teacher's house.

He has challenged other leaders in his province to work with him to develop the district and the province as a whole.

Youths conduct mass theft, one caught

Two of them, one a teenager, was caught by security guards at Ela Emporium. The other fourteen escaped in a waiting boat.

Madang police commander acting Supt Mazuc Rubiang said the incident occurred at around 7:45am today.

Rubiang added that out of all the stolen items, only two music devices were found beside a nearby store.

“I want the public to assist by doing civilian arrest on such criminals so they can provide information to arrest others who are at large. Public must also help,” Rubiang said.

He said police are investigating the matter.

Carjackers escape police custody

The suspects escaped custody at the Jomba Police Station the same day.

Madang Police Commander Chief Inspector Mazuc Rubiang said police acted on information and successfully arrested the suspects on Friday September 24, but they managed to flee the police station.

Chief Inspector Mazuc Rubiang said the dark blue ten seater was taken by armed men on September 18, when the driver went to pick up an IMR officer at 4am, at New Town. Police recovered the vehicle a day later.