Police are yet to arrest and charge suspects who were involved in setting alight two unmarked police vehicles in Hula Village, Rigo District of Central Province on Saturday, according to the NCD/Central Police boss.
The Commander of the National Capital District and Central Provinces, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin, confirmed that suspects had been identified and their names were provided to the police, who were directed to surrender all tomorrow. He said the suspects who were also involved in burning down three houses belonging to the village people had also been identified and were ordered to surrender tomorrow.
“Police are yet to establish the reason why the two police vehicles were burned. There is information circulating on social media sites regarding the initial cause of the problem, which will be verified when the suspects from both sides are brought in for questioning. I want to thank my police officers in the command, as well as our Operational Units, which include the Mobile Squad and Dog Unit, who responded when police were notified by rescuing the families of the policeman in the village,” ACP Turi said.
He further added that, according to information provided to the police, it was alleged that a policeman’s daughter was seriously assaulted late last year. She was brought in for medical treatment but died while at the hospital. He said that the relatives, when returning home for the burial, burned down some houses, which provoked the villagers to retaliate by burning the unmarked police vehicles. He said all parties involved will be investigated and charged accordingly.
Commander Turi, while stressing the Hula incident, added that what the villagers did to the police vehicles was not right because the vehicles are not private property belonging to individual police officers or their families. They are public property.
He condemned what had happened and called on the village leaders and the police to bring in all the suspects involved by tomorrow (Tuesday, October 10, 2026).
He also stated that the police officers responsible for driving the vehicles will be investigated and dealt with accordingly. The burt vehicles were towed back to Port Moresby.