Governor Rapa dispatches repatriation team to bring home WHP students from Goroka

Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa dispatched a major repatriation team to Goroka on Monday to bring home more than 700 Western Highlands students studying at the University of Goroka [UOG].

This follows violent clashes between students and the local community in Goroka over the weekend, which forced the university to suspend classes indefinitely.

Governor Rapa said the safety of Western Highlands students is his government’s top priority.

“We have invested heavily in the human resource of our province through education. What happened in Goroka is unfortunate, and we must act swiftly to bring our students home safely,” Rapa said.

The repatriation convoy included 18 hired PMVs, three school buses from Mt Hagen Secondary, Hagen Park Secondary, and Notre Dame Secondary, as well as the official Mt Hagen Eagles Rugby League team bus.

The operation was led by Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent John Sagom, supported by Mobile Squad 5, 6, and 7, the Sector Response Unit 400, the National Support Unit, and members of the media.

Chief Superintendent Sagom said two police units from MS07 and SRU Mt Hagen were deployed on Sunday to ensure the safety of the repatriation mission.

The team was expected to arrive in Goroka last night to begin evacuating stranded Western Highlands students back to Mt Hagen.