2 killed as armed criminals kidnap teenage girls in Papua New Guinea

The Commissioner of Police, David Manning, has confirmed that a coordinated police operation is underway in Haiyafuli Village, Mogulu, Western Province, after two teenage girls were kidnapped and taken hostage by armed criminals.

One of the young girls was tragically murdered by the kidnappers. Her remains have been recovered by police. The second victim is still being held at a separate location at gunpoint, and efforts to locate and rescue her are ongoing.

During the police response, one offender was shot and killed.

Commissioner Manning stated: “This is an ongoing operation in which police are pursuing dangerous criminals who killed one young woman and continue to hold another girl at gunpoint. These are desperate individuals who have rejected the basic standards of their own communities and placed themselves outside decent society.

“Specialist tactical police are tracking them, and they should be under no illusion about the consequences if they resist or continue to threaten innocent life. One has already been killed, and others will face the same fate if they choose violence over surrender.

“Our main priority is the safety and recovery of the young girl they have taken, and police will use every lawful and necessary means to bring her out alive.

“These criminals need to understand that their only path to survival is to immediately release this girl unharmed and surrender to police. Specialist police are on their trail, and where unlawful weapons are used or innocent lives are threatened, police are authorised to respond decisively and without hesitation to save life.”

He thanked local communities for their support and urged them to continue assisting police, stressing that the perpetrators “must receive no shelter, no support and no silence from any community.”