Governor Bird calls for investigation into burning of public properties in Maprik
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird has condemned the actions of gangsters from Malba Village in Yamil Tamaui LLG who had burnt down two Teacher's houses and looted state houses in Maprik Town on Tuesday.
In a statement released today Mr Bird said on Monday afternoon around 3pm, 2 unknown men had entered the private property of Peter Simon a local businessman and set fire to four of his dump trucks.
He went on to further explain that on Tuesday around 6am in the morning, family and relatives of the Simon family arrived in town in 5 vehicles and went on a rampage in Maprik town burning down three houses and two 15-seater buses and looted other homes.
“Maprik Police intervened but were attacked by a wire catapult and had to retreat. The surrounding villagers came to the aid of the Police and started attacking the group that came into town.
“In the ensuing retaliatory attack, property belonging to the Simon family was burnt to the ground. As of this morning, Police are now trying to protect the remaining property belonging to the Simon family. Both John and Peter Simon were not in the province at the time of the attacks,” Bird said.
Governor Bird said a total of 189 suspects were detained last night and a special magistrate court would sit today to begin processing the suspects.
Bird urged people to allow police to deal with the issue and not try to take matters into their own hands.
“All perpetrators will be arrested and processed, from Angoram to Westcoast, Yangoru, Wosera, Maprik, and Drekikir over the next 30 days.
“We are expecting around 600 individuals to be arrested and charged over the next few weeks,” Bird said.
Meanwhile, Local MP Libert Kapris has highlighted the need for peace, tolerance, and harmony to be maintained in the communities and that would only happen if everyone allowed law enforcement to do their work.
Adding on from Governor Bird, Kapris further said that Proper Investigations would be conducted to identify the perpetrators and reports would be made back to the appropriate authorities.
He commended Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent Christopher Tamari and his personnel from Yangoru, Wewak, Angoram, Wosera, and Drekikier districts together with combined forces from 2PIR Moem Barracks and youths from Surrounding Maprik Villages for their Quick intervention, binging the situation under control.
“I now appeal to the General Public to remain calm and not to cause any more damages to public properties and businesses to operate as normal to give confidence to our investors.
“Whoever is implicated in this looting will face full force of the law and let justice prevail,” Libert said.