A taskforce consisting of K9 personnel have apprehended the man who stoned and robbed several victims in Navesau on Monday.
The officers tracked down the suspect in Ba and he was taken into custody at the Nalawa Police Station where he is currently being questioned.
There are eight reports lodged at the Nalawa Police Station whereby the suspect allegedly stoned vehicles and robbed businessmen.
After allegedly committing the offences the suspect threw rocks at the team of officers and bystanders whereby a man was injured and K9 Bexel also sustained injuries.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abdul Khan has acknowledged the support of those who assisted Police.
“It was a dangerous situation that could have seriously injured or cost someone’s life and while there were claims that Police did not do enough, we did what we could in light of the threat confronting not only Police but other members of the public”.
“Unfortunately someone was injured and he was merely trying to assist and one of our K9 dogs was also injured and the team worked throughout the night to track the suspect down and take him into custody”.
ACP Khan says such actions will not be taken lightly and Police will deploy all necessary resources if needed to apprehended the individual responsible.
Police spent yesterday looking for a young man from Naveidawa Settlement in Wainibuka, Tailevu, who was setting up checkpoints with corrugated iron and bamboo poles to rob people.
The man identified as Marika, is also alleged to have thrown stones at the Police and their vehicle when they came to question him.
The Police were alerted of the alleged robbery and extortion when a man lodged a report at the Korovou Police Station.
Naveidawa Settlement is just outside Nabulini Village and when a few villagers approached him about his behaviour, they too were pelted with stones.
Nabulini Village headman (turaga-ni-koro) Waisake Kaloulai said this was the first time such an incident had taken place.
Nabulini Village headman (turaga-ni-koro) Waisake Kaloulai. Photo: Ronald Kumar
“The young man is not part of the village, but after we came to know of what had happened, we sent some men from the village to talk to him,” he said.
“But they too were met with stones. No one was injured, but this is not acceptable.
“I have sent a message to all the youths in the village to refrain from criminal acts. We also want people to co-operate with the Police.”
Fake news generated
The incident, which happened on Monday, coincided with the visit of two Government ministers to Nabulini where they launched the chips manufacturing programme started by the villagers.
Facebook posts from the usual keyboard warrior suspects based overseas said that men armed with knives put up roadblocks and attacked the ministers’ vehicles.
However, Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said this was not true. She said civilians were allegedly robbed and stones were thrown at Police vehicles.
Edited by Ranoba Baoa
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*Edited