BY DANIEL KUMBON JR
Enga Province will officially launch the Illegal Firearms Amnesty Program in Wabag town this Friday to retrieve all firearms to restore peace and stability across the province.
The amnesty program is expected to play a crucial role in addressing ongoing law and order challenges in Enga Province, where violence linked to illegal and homemade weapons has claimed many lives.
First Secretary to the Police Minister, Peter Leo Yambe, emphasized the importance of the amnesty program, stating that awareness activities are already underway throughout the province to inform the public about the initiative.
Mr Yambe said the detailed rollout plan for each district would be announced during the official launch on Friday.
“We are planning to retrieve all firearms in the province because most of the deaths we are seeing, as a result of people owning illegal firearms,” he said.
He confirmed that the awareness campaign is already producing positive results, with some leaders publicly announcing their intention to surrender illegal firearms during Friday’s launching ceremony.“I’m very happy to announce that the President for Porgera Rural LLG and leader of Pianda Tribe, Towa Kina, and Laiagap Rural LLG President Morope Ipara of the Sakare Tribe will be the first to set the precedent by surrendering illegal firearms they own during the launching on Friday,” Mr Yambe said.
Authorities are appealing to community leaders, churches, youth groups, and families to support the initiative and encourage the voluntary surrender of firearms before the March 26 deadline.
“There will be others who will also surrender, and I’m optimistic we will receive a good number of illegal firearms,” he said.
The event will be attended by key national and provincial leaders, including Police Minister and Member for Kompiam-Ambum, Sir John Pundari, Transport Minister and Member for Wapenamanda, Miki Kaeok, Provincial Police Commander Supt. Steven Harris, and Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas.