In a startling turn of events, an Australian pilot and two local workers, who were kidnapped at gunpoint in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea on Monday, were swiftly released just hours after the abduction, according to statements from the local police.
The incident unfolded when the helicopter pilot and passengers touched down at a secluded telecommunications site near Mount Sisa in Hela province. At that point, an armed group confronted them, forcibly taking them away at gunpoint on Monday afternoon, revealed Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner David Manning in a statement.
Amidst heightened tensions, negotiations ensued between law enforcement and the armed group. After several hours, a breakthrough was achieved, and the captives were released unharmed and in good condition, as promptly announced by Commissioner Manning in a subsequent statement. While the police had been granted authorization to use lethal force against the kidnappers, the specific details regarding the employment of such measures during the resolution were not disclosed.
This incident brings a chilling echo of a similar occurrence almost a year ago in the same province, where an Australian archaeologist and two Papua New Guinean researchers were subjected to abduction and held captive for over a week until a ransom was paid.
As the news unfolded, Australia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to respond to requests for comments on the recent incident, leaving many questions regarding the circumstances and motivations behind the abduction unanswered. The speedy release of the victims, however, offers a glimmer of relief in what could have escalated into a more prolonged and concerning ordeal.
