Voluntary gun surrender gains momentum under “Make Hela Safe Again” initiative

Two factory made firearms, AK-47 assault rifle and an SR8 tactical rifle, surrendered on Saturday afternoon *(Supplied)*

The ongoing law and order intervention in Hela Province, operating under the banner "Make Hela Safe Again," reached another milestone over the weekend as more high-powered guns were voluntarily surrendered.

Hela Governor Philip Undialu confirmed that at 3:51 PM on Saturday, 12 September, local youths voluntarily stepped forward to surrender two additional high-powered firearms—an AK-47 assault rifle and an SR8 tactical rifle.

Governor Undialu commended their resolve to reject violence in favor of community peace and personal growth.

"I extend my sincere thanks to these young people for making the courageous choice to lay down their arms," Governor Undialu said "My administration guarantees that they will not be left behind.

“We are actively linking these individuals into education pathways, technical skills training, and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) support so they can rebuild their lives as productive, contributing members of society." Undialu said.

Governor Undialu emphasized that the "Make Hela Safe Again" initiative extends far beyond the physical collection of weapons.

"This program is fundamentally about transforming lives, protecting families, and opening real pathways for our youth," he noted. "We are asking our people to choose peace over violence, education over destruction, and legitimate enterprise over crime to secure a prosperous future for our children." He said.

The latest handover follows another voluntary surrender earlier in the week, when a young man personally delivered an M16 A2 service rifle to the Governor’s residence. Governor Undialu shared the young man's words: “This gun has destroyed my life and destroyed our communities. I want to change. I want to become a better person.”

"It takes immense courage to admit that and walk away from conflict. I have personally pledged to assist him in returning to school and starting an SME. This is the positive transformation we want to see across every district in Hela," he said.

Governor Undialu renewed his call to remaining armed youths across the province, urging them to follow this example by putting down their weapons, embracing education, and joining the growing wave of peace building throughout Hela.