ADDA boosts Alotau police armory
Alotau District Development Authority (ADDA) presented two Mossberg pump-action shotguns to the on Wednesday to the Alotau Police Station Command to boost its operational capacity in Milne Bay province.
The presentation fulfills a request submitted two years ago by Rabaraba Police, however, funding constraints delayed the purchase until DDA recently approved the funding for the firearms and other police operational gears.
The presentation included two Mossberg pump-action shot guns, 300 rounds of 12-gauge cartridges and three sets of police field-operations uniforms, costing over K64, 000.
Presenting the firearms and equipment to Alotau Police, Alotau District CEO Hillary Wilson said the North Coast of Maramatana LLG and Rabaraba area in the Weraura LLG, Alotau district, is a vast area and poses a significant challenge for police personnel, particularly with less manpower and inadequate equipment.
"With no police presence and no proper equipment, it's a very very challenging job for our policemen. Following the request of our Rabaraba police Constable, we stepped in to make sure our officers are properly equipped with the right equipment to do their job," Wilson said.
"The DDA undertook this initiative to procure two firearms and some ammunition to hand over to our policemen so they can do their job properly", he concluded.
In receiving the firearms and equipment, PPC Chief Inspector Benjamin Kua acknowledged the support ADDA has always shown for its law enforcers in the district.
He said the presentation was timely as police need functional firearms to combat rising crime, as existing weapons had deteriorated.
"All our ammo and guns we use in the province are all rusty and not usable. We were running out due to the rise in crime everywhere in the province, especially in the Alotau and Rabaraba area," he said.
"I will also make it clear that the firearms are now property of the state and police will be the custodians. It is now the property of the people of Milne Bay Province."
Kua stressed that the firearms and ammunition presented will be made available to support Alotau Police, Rabaraba police and other police operations across the province as required.