Mangau expressed that the investigation is ongoing
BY LORETTA B MANELE
Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau has assured the public that it is business as usual, but urged citizens, especially parents, to take necessary precautions to ensure safety.
He made the comment during a press conference at OPMC, Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet yesterday afternoon regarding the recent public scare of said kidnappings or abductions on social media.
Mangau said five suspects were arrested on Friday in connection with unrelated incidents.
He mentioned that three of them have been released, while two remain in custody.
Mangau expressed that the investigation is ongoing as their teams work diligently to identify any possible links to organ harvesting or kidnapping activities in Honiara.
He said the five suspects have been charged for other offenses unrelated to kidnapping, vehicles have been impounded as part of the investigation and they are awaiting the outcome of these inquiries.
Mangau stated that the police are currently investigating only two attempted kidnapping cases, but no actual kidnapping reports or missing person cases have been filed in the country so far.
He stressed that unfortunately, false information and rumors spreading on social media are causing unnecessary fear and anxiety within our communities.
Mangau said we must continue our daily routines and operate as usual.
“We have a responsibility to protect our children dropping them off and picking them up from school is part of our daily duty. Drop them off at school and pick them up is our day-to-day business”
He said crime is present in every society around the world, and when it occurs, it is the authorities’ job to respond.
Mangau stated that there have been no reports of abductions or kidnappings and due to a lot of misinformation being spread in social media, there has been fear and anxiety in the capital.
He said the police can provide security and assure safety of all citizens of Solomon Islands if we work together and support our police to provide information.
Mangau encourages the public to come forward if they know their relatives are involved in this.
“If you know your uncle, brother is connected and involved in this please come forward and report it. But if we protect those invoked in this kind of activities, we will create on problem for our community”
The police commissioner calls on everyone to work together, have faith in our authorities, continue with our usual activities and let responsible authorities to continue with their duty.
McFadden Aoraunisaka, Chief of Staff to OPMC spoke on behalf of the GNUT (Government for National Unity and Transformation) government.
He said on behalf of the government, just to give confidence to the general public, the government is on top of this and is serious about what is happening because it is a mass public scare.
Aoraunisaka stressed that the whole government machineries are intact is functioning and what happened is more like shaking our national unity.
“But we will solve it. It is the “Unity” within the Government of National Unity and Transformation that is shaking at the moment, which is not good if we are not united. But to assure the people the whole government machinery is functioning”
He said of course, we can go on with our normal lives but with responsibilities and whether abductions happen or not it is our duty to look after ourselves for our own safety.
“Just go on with your normal life and business and look after your children well as well”
Aoraunisaka said we have socio paths in our communities who are probably just trolling because they watch too many movies or computer games and might want to act them out. However, we must be complacent, we must take responsibility in our movements and actions.
