Baker duo shot dead, cops rescue 13-year-old girl

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

The Baker duo's makeshift hideout on the mountains of Gudugudu Babana

Baker duo shot dead, cops rescue 13-year-old girl

PORT MORESBY: Police rescued a 13-year-old girl and shot dead two Tommy Baker gang members in a gun battle on the mountains of Gudugudu Babana in Milne Bay’s Alotau on June 7, 2021.

The minor was abducted from Alia village, held captive as a “sex slave” for about a week.

Details of the rescue and an ongoing manhunt for the Tommy Baker Gang members were reported by The National:

2 Baker men shot dead

June 15, 2021The NationalMain Stories

Locals and Alotau CID officers bringing down the remains of the two Baker Gang members shot dead by police down from the mountains of Gudugudu Babana. – Picture supplied

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
POLICE rescued a 13-year-old girl and shot dead two of Tommy Baker’s gang members in a gun battle on the mountains of Gudugudu Babana in Milne Bay’s Alotau on June 7. The minor was abducted from Alia village, held captive and repeatedly raped by the gang members for about a week. This brings the number of Baker’s gangsters arrested or shot dead, since they attacked the police and burnt down police barracks on April 30, to 45. The police are in the midst of an ongoing 60-day manhunt for 25 gang members who are on the run and hiding. The manhunt is estimated to cost K2.2 million, the costliest ever for criminals in Papua New Guinea. The police team, comprising Special Services Division and the Major Investigation Taskforce, have tightened the dragnet on three gang leaders – Michael ‘Mekere’ Yawi, Eugene Takalasi and Baker himself. The tightening of the dragnet resulted in the gunfight between police and Baker’s gang. This year, police have shot dead five gang members. In total, 19 suspects are now behind bars in Giligili Prison since the April 30 attack on the police by the Baker Gang. Fifty homemade guns have been seized from the gang since the start of the 60-day manhunt in Alotau. The operations have been slow with no funding available for the policemen who are working to bring back some sort of normalcy in Alotau. The men, identified as “Mero” and “Samuel”, were part of the gang members who attacked Port Moresby and Alotau police on April 30. After the April 30 attack, the duo with a number of men hid on the mountains of Gudugudu Babana in the Gwavili ward. According to police, after arriving at the mountains and setting up camp, the gang members went into Alia village and abducted a 13-year-old girl. The girl was raped for days after she was taken hostage by the gang. A week later, the girl was hungry and escaped from her captors and managed to make it half way down the mountain when “Mero” caught up with her. They went to the girl’s family home. The father, knowing what would happen if he did anything, gave food and water, praying for his daughter’s safety. After they left, word was sent to the police, who after a hike up the mountains, found the gang members’ hideout camp. The gang members opened fire at the policemen. “Samuel” was shot as he was trying to run down the hill. “Mero” was shot as he tried to get dressed. The minor was rescued by police and the two bodies were taken down the mountains. Police crime director Chief Insp Joel Simatab confirmed with The National that the shooting and killing of the two gang members.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30

Image
News that matters in Papua New Guinea Armed tribal warriors on the move in Sugu Valley. Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30 PORT MORESBY: At least six tribes have been fighting in Sugu Valley (Kagua-Erave, Southern Highlands) since Feb 10, 2019, without any signs of an end and peace. In fact, the death toll has risen to at least 30, up from 11 on May 23, 2019, and the opening of a new battlefront in Sumbura near Poroma with multiple deaths reported in 24 wards. Armed tribal warriors on the march into the forests and jungles. PNG Cyber Monitor had on a May 25, 2019, posting ( https://pngcybermonitor.blogspot.com/2019/05/real-life-rifles-bows-and-arrows-bloody.html Real life rifles, bows and arrows bloody fights in PNG ) highlighted the bloody battle waged by tribal warriors armed with rifles, bows and arrows and knives. PNG Cyber Monitor is again highlighting the plight of the villagers who have been living in fear as reported by The Nationa
Read more

Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea (Employment stagnant since 2014) PORT MORESBY: Employment in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has remained stagnant since 2014 with millions of unemployed looking for jobs. The formal job market currently can only accommodate between 400,000 and 500,000, Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker says. “As more young people enter the job market this year after graduating from tertiary institutions and schools, the chances of securing formal employment is slim. “Employment had remained stagnant despite the increase in potential workers coming out of educations institutions,” he added. Read on for more details as published by The National : Hard to get jobs January 27, 2022 The National Main Stories By DALE LUMA MILLIONS of eligible workers around the country are looking for jobs in the formal sector, which currently can
Read more

Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Sorcery tortures and violence are still being practised in Papua New Guinea in this 21st Century digital era. Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas PORT MORESBY: It was international shame for Papua New Guinea (PNG) this Christmas when sorcery reared its ugly head. Six women were stripped, bound to poles and burnt with hot knives as they screamed in pain, watched by an unsympathetic crowd. In a video that has gone viral in the internet, the women were accused of practising sorcery in Southern’s Enga. Police Comm David Manning described the sorcery torture as vile, inhumane, uncivilised, void of any human decency. “Papua New Guinea cannot progress without letting go of these horrific traditional beliefs. We have launched an urgent probe into the incident in Aiya’s Pawayamo village in Kagua-Erave.” The news break was published by The National : Horror torture of women Decem
Read more