30th December 2025
Special Operations Units led by Commander Anthony Wagambi at the frontline moved in swiftly yesterday afternoon in response to gun-shots at Wapenamanda station and impounded a suspicious vehicle belonging to a company based in Mt. Hagen.
A thorough search by members of the special operations, both police and defense force soldiers revealed the vehicle, a Mitsubishi Station Wagon is registered under Hui Huang Trading Limited ofPost Office Box 1622, Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands province.
The vehicle driven by unidentified men drove into a vacant spotnext to the Wapenamanda Coffee factory and minutes later gunshots were heard.
Security forces stationed just about a hundred meters away heard the gunshots and moved swiftly but the perpetrators disappeared into the surrounding terrain.
Police investigators attached to the Special Operation Task Force will investigate the owners of the company in Mt. Hagen to collect more information on the identity of the suspects who were using the vehicle and their motives for firing the shots.
The situation at Wapenamanda remains quiet as of today but tense as fear is still looming because of the apprehension and detention of 18 tribesmen from the Yakuman tribe yesterday by members of the Special Operations.
The tribesmen were intercepted by members of the special operations stationed at Mambisanda Rural Hospital for violating the National court-sanctioned Wapenamanda Peace Accord signed last week in Port Moresby.
The 18 men were swiftly transported to Mt. Hagen where formal charges will be laid and they will appear in court to face Justice Graham Ellis who gave orders for the two warring tribes of Yangukim and Yakuman to lay down arms to allow the Mediation Team to negotiate for peace.
Justice Ellis issued orders last Friday for an immediate seven days ceasefire after the signing of the Peace Agreement in Port Moresby. Both parties to the conflict signed the agreement through their leaders Minister Miki Kaeoka for Yangukim tribe and a local businessman Danny Katie for the Yakuman tribe.
Provisions under the Peace Agreement demanded for immediate ceasefire and handing in of suspects involved in killings from the two respective tribes during the conflict.
Minister Kaoek’s Yangukim tribe handed in two suspects to the Mediation Team led by acting ACP Western End Joseph Tondop on Wednesday. The Yakuman tribe who are landowners of Wapenamanda station defaulted in surrendering their suspects until today.
Members of the Special Police Operations led by Commander Anthony Wagambi (Jnr) based in Mendi were called in to assist their small contingent based at Mambisanda Rural hospital to enforce the court sanctioned Peace Agreement.
Upon arrival from Mendi on Friday morning, the reinforcements units sprung straight into action at Mambisanda and defused an eminent confrontation between the Yakuman and Itoken tribes.
Three vehicles were impounded and firearms and ammunitions were confiscated from the Yakuman tribesmen.
