BY SAMIE WAIKORI
A member of the Wairokai community in West Are’are, Malaita Province, Nelson Puiaraha Waitoru, calls for the establishment of a police outpost in the area.
His plea comes in response to an alarming increase in criminal activities within the community and the growing concern for the safety of residents, especially women and children.
In a social media post this week, Waitoru highlighted that Wairokai has become one of the top five communities in West Are’are with a significant rise in criminal incidents.
He pointed out that the community has seen a troubling number of arrests related to drug offenses, illegal beer sales, the production and sale of kwaso (homebrew), and disturbances due to alcohol-related issues.
Waitoru also referred to a recent violent incident on January 25, 2026, in which a high school student was stabbed and another was wounded at Wairokai.
He confirmed that Auki police responded to the incident and arrested the perpetrator, who was then taken to Auki.
Additionally, Waitoru reported that police have made efforts to apprehend two kwaso producers in the community, but both individuals managed to escape, marking the second time they have evaded capture.
Waitoru expressed gratitude to Wairokai community for their cooperation in assisting the police with information related to criminal activities.
He urges the residents to continue to stand together in the fight against these illegal activities that have plagued the community for years.
In a related incident last month, Auki police arrested a 64-year-old former police officer for illegal sale of alcohol during the Christmas and New Year period in 2026.
During the arrest, authorities confiscated 12 cartons of beer and dismantled a kwaso distilling operation.
According to the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Malaita, Michael Ramosaea, the suspect was charged with selling liquor without a license and violating restrictions on alcohol production.
The suspect was granted bail and will appear before the Auki Magistrate Court.
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