Tommy Baker gang members spend six hours trying to seize control of Milne Bay police headquarters

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Tommy Baker gang members spend six hours trying to seize control of Milne Bay police headquarters

PORT MORESBY: What can a Government and the police do in response to people who have absolutely no respect for the law, law and order and human lives?

How do you describe such people? Uncivilised beings? It is just too kind to describe them as uncivilised.

For the second time in two years, Tommy Maeva Baker Gang members have attacked policemen and their stations in Milne Bay.

Their motive for the attack - to seek revenge for the killing of their assailants killed by police in piracy and robbery attempts.

Some 70 gang members spent about six hours, launching sporadic shootings, trying to seize control of the police station and provincial headquarters in Milne Bay.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below details of the drama as reported by The National:

 

Milne Bay cops attacked

March 26, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
POLICE and about 70 Tommy Maeva Baker Gang members were locked in a six-hour gun battle from 11pm on March 18, to 5am the following morning.
Miraculously and fortunately, no policeman was injured in the sporadic crossfires sparked by the robbers and killers as revenge for the recent deaths of their accomplices.
The notorious and elusive Tommy Baker, who was shot and injured about two years ago, is still on the run.
Southern commander Asst Comm (ACP) Negi Riga said his men fought gallantly to protect their police station and provincial headquarters in Milne Bay from being taken by the gang.
It was the second time the gang has challenged and attacked the police and its station.
The first was in 2019.
“It was a three-strategy attack plan,” ACP Riga said.
“They split into three groups to attack policemen and their families in Alotau.
“One group attacked the police station, another set up an ambush at Garuboi Street, between the Catholic church and the police station, and the third group set up roadblocks at the Misima Police Barracks.
“The gang launched the attacks to take revenge for the deaths of their members who were shot dead by police in recent piracy and armed robberies.”
He said the gang had, for the past month, issued threats to kill policemen and their families after police stepped up deadly and successful operations against the gang’s piracy and robbery activities.
“They launched their attack with an ambush outside KB barracks at 11pm knowing that a member of the task force unit would be dropped off at the barracks at the end of his shift,” he said.
“However, they prematurely opened fire at the approaching police vehicle, only damaging driver’s door.
“The members of the task force then returned fire, forcing the shooters to retreat and flee.
“The task force members then returned to the police station to beef up manpower, awaiting an imminent attack from the gang.”
ACP Riga said shortly after the botched ambush and attack, the gang launched a heavy attack on the police station with massive gun fire believed to be from factory made firearms, pump action shot guns and homemade guns.
“The gang planned to attack and burn down the police station and the provincial police headquarters,” he said.
“However, the policemen were able to return fire to thwart the attack.
“The policemen and their families were also advised to repel an attack with whatever weapons they had if the gang attacked the barracks.
ACP Riga said the gang’s failure to attack and seize the police station frustrated them and they broke into the Catholic priest’s houses and wounded two priests.

Fugitive yet to be captured

March 26, 2021The NationalNational

ALTHOUGH the shot and injured Tommy Maeva Baker has been on the run and a fugitive since 2013, he has yet to be sighted by the police.
However, some 70 of his armed gang members launched a second attack on policemen and the Milne Bay station on March 18, engaging the police in a six-hour sporadic shootout.
The gang’s first such attack was staged in 2019 when they attacked the police barracks, burning down several houses, killing a policeman’s wife and two children.
Here is a short take on Tommy Baker’s reign of terror:

· BAKER and his gang of killers and robbers started their reign of terror in Alotau as far back as 2013, committing dozens of robberies and killings in Alatou, Central and Northern;

· OVER the years, Baker “commanded” up to 40 followers;

· BAKER was captured but he was believed to have faked a knee injury and escaped from the Port Moresby General Hospital on Oct 5, 2018 (five prison warders were questioned);

· BAKER, who had escaped from prison twice (Milne Bay’s Giligili and Port Moresby’s Bomana prisons), was injured in a shootout with police, but, he still managed to flee and remains as elusive as ever (a hospital nurse had been arrested for giving medical treatment to Baker but she had refused to reveal his hideout. A man was also arrested for providing logistics to help Baker flee from police);

· IN the shootout, provincial lawyer Michael Efi was shot dead, following the burning down of a house belonging to Baker’s right-hand man;

· BAKER and his gang members retaliated by burning down police barracks, killing a mother and her child;

· POLICE described Baker as extremely dangerous, similar to the late William Nanua Kapris; and,

· LAST August 2018, eight Baker gang members were arrested.