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WNB ‘most dangerous’

WEST New Britain has become the most dangerous province for police to work, a former senior police officer told a meeting at Bialla yesterday.
John Toguata — formerly the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Commander of the Islands Region — said at a National Guns Control Committee meeting at Bialla that since 1996, four policemen have been gunned down by criminals in the province.
In 1996, a constable was killed by criminals. In 2001, another officer was gunned down by criminals. In 2003, another policeman, Walter Agima, was shot by criminals.
The latest shooting of a policeman was that of Constable Jerry Darius in Kimbe last week.
Mr Toguata, a member of the National Guns Control Committee, said this situation had become unacceptable.
He demanded the people and leaders of the province take action to stop any further killings of innocent policemen or members of the public in the province.
Mr Toguata said that taking action against illegal guns needed leaders to take the lead and work closely with their people to rid society of illegal guns.
Mr Toguata revealed at the meeting a member of the public in East New Britain had told him of a police officer who had given a gun to a politician.
Mr Toguata said the matter would be investigated by the Ombudsman Commission.
The meeting at Bialla was attended by more than 1000 people who included villagers, school students, public servants, youths and women’s representatives.
All speakers at the meeting expressed grave concerns about the increasing number of illegal firearms in West New Britain Province.
Some speakers called for the number of policemen based in Bialla — and West New Britain as a whole — to be increased.
A number of students from Bialla Provincial High School called for urgent action to rid the entire province of illegal guns.