FOUR Police officers were attacked in an ambush-style at Nabua in Suva this morning while they pursued two vehicles whose occupants were acting in a suspicious manner.
And as a result, six men have been arrested – five are being questioned in Police custody and one taken to the CWM hospital for medical treatment.
The officers based at the Southern Highway Division were on routine patrol at around 2am when they came across the occupants of the two vehicles, and when approached, they claimed the men were armed.
The officers have been identified as Police Constables Waisale Senikavika, Ronald Kumar, Robakibau Drotini and Special Constable Talikai Kavou.
Police said the two groups fled the scene in their car and the pursuit ended at the Mead Road Housing where it was alleged the two vehicles blocked the police car from the front and rear, and the occupants of the two vehicles allegedly struck the police car with iron rods and others stoned the vehicle while the officers were trapped inside.
Police said while the attack continued, the officers called for back-up while driver PC Senikavika kept moving the vehicle to try and maneuver the car from where it was wedged between the private vehicles.
According to Police, close to 60 officers from various Southern Division units arrived at the scene in a “matter of minutes” to assist their comrades.
The hunt is now on for others who are alleged to have been involved.
“We will not rest until everyone involved in this attack is arrested, and if you want to support the attacks against police officers, stand ready to face the consequences when the law takes its course,” Fiji’s Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said.
While he praised the actions of the officers who remained steadfast in the execution of their duties amid the terrifying ordeal, he also warned that officers would not rest until all those involved were arrested for this attacking.
“The reality is that when close to 900,000 of Fiji’s population are tucked away safely in their beds at night, we are out there working hard to keep everyone safe, and it is extremely disappointing to receive a third report of an attack in less than two weeks against police, the very officers who are working hard to keep everyone safe,” Brig-Gen Qiliho said.
“More than 1000 officers are conducting beat and mobile patrols throughout the night throughout the four divisions and last night 200 officers were out conducting operations in the Southern Division and when someone attacks one officer it affects our operations because if an officer is injured it affects our manpower, and if a resource asset is damaged it impacts our service delivery”.
