Police clear Elauru roadblock following murder dispute
The roadblock set up by the Elauru village community in the Waria LLG of the Wau Waria district has been cleared by police, under the command of the Morobe Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Samson Siguyaru, following the brutal murder of a youth from the community.
The youth was murdered at six compound in Wau town approximately 3 weeks ago, causing outrage, triggering the Elauru community to ambush the district’s local MP, Marsh Narewec, to make their demands, while he was out doing normal road inspections along the Morobe-Northern Highway with the district Works engineer and road constructions team on Tuesday, March 31st, just days before the long Easter weekend.
According to police reports, men, women and youths of the Elauru community wielded bush knives and chased the road construction workers and used an axe to smash the glasses of the vehicle MP Narewec was in while pointing a bush knife at him while giving their demands.
The construction workers fled for their lives, but the MP remained and requested the community to explain their grievances.
The villagers demanded that the roadblock that they had set up remain until the six compound harboring the murder suspects in Wau town are evicted and that all suspects involved in the murder must be apprehended.
On Easter Sunday, the 5th of April, the district MP, accompanied by his District Administrator, John Orebut, and the Wau Police Station Commander [PSC], Mathew Kawa, visited the Elauru community to assure them that law and order efforts are ongoing, and to urge them to clear the road block and allow other innocent road users to travel and sustain their livelihoods. (
The Wau PSC updated the community that police have already commenced clearance of the six compound and the banana block and confirmed that two of the five said suspects attempting to escape police arrest were shot.
“Three of the suspects are still on the run, and investigations continue, but I want to remind you that putting a roadblock is also illegal under the law. May I also remind you that the approach you took to present your demands to your parliament representative is a very serious offence, but your MP did not instruct the police to intervene specifically in that regard. Therefore, you should have the decency to show some respect and open this road for the public to use,” Kawa said.
Addressing the community, MP Narewec also stressed on the importance of leaving the highway open, assuring that law and order will take its course.
“The execution of two of your three demands are already underway so you can be assured that law and order is taking its course for the life you lost. As your local MP, I am asking you to open the road for the other communities to use,” Narewec.
The Elauru community thanked their local MP and police for taking action, however they insisted that all five suspects must be apprehended before they can clear the roadblock.
This led to the Morobe PPC, Chief Superintendent Siguyaru himself, with additional manpower travelling to the district, and had the road block immediately removed on Wednesday, April 8th.
“I am now appealing to the community leaders to assist police and surrender the murder suspects,” Siguryaru told the community in Wau.
He went on to issue a stern warning stating that the failure to comply will result in the full force of law being enforced.
“I appeal to the community to surrender these suspects for your own good but if you don’t, I will return to execute the full force of law. I already have the full Intel but I’m giving you the chance to show ownership and bring these suspects forward.”
“It is common for a community to know who the suspects are but you continue to harbor these criminals who will one day turn around and kill you or one of your family members. They are murderers and if you are harboring them, you will also face the consequences,” PPC Siguyaru warned.
The Police boss further released a public warning notice to all communities, stating that under the Protection of Transport Infrastructure Act 2010, anyone setting up an illegal roadblock can be fined up to K500,000 or be imprisoned for up to 5 years. Additionally, anyone who interferes with road construction or government projects can face fines of up to K1 million, or be imprisoned for up to 10 years.
The notice made it very clear that there will be no negotiations with individuals or groups breaking the law.