Twelve Suspected Robbers Killed In West New Britain, As Police Shootout Ends Deadly Encounter Today

Kimbe, Papua New Guinea— Police shot dead 12 suspected armed robbers at 2:15 a.m. on October 28, 2026, after a gun battle erupted along the Hoskins-Kimbe highway in West New Britain Province.

Police said a task force was patrolling after a series of holdups targeting palm oil trucks near Kavui village. Officers spotted a roadblock made of logs. A group of men with rifles and machetes tried to stop vehicles. When police approached, the men opened fire. Officers returned fire.

West New Britain Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Peter Barkie said the suspects were part of a gang that had robbed travelers for three months. He said police recovered six homemade rifles, three pistols, and stolen mobile phones from the scene. "Our men were under direct fire, they had to respond," he said. "We warned them to drop weapons, they kept shooting."

The shootout lasted about 10 minutes. All 12 suspects died at the scene. No police officers were killed, but one constable suffered a graze wound to the arm. Two police vehicles were hit. The bodies were taken to Kimbe General Hospital morgue for identification. Police said none had IDs, but locals may know them.

Residents of Kavui said they heard continuous gunfire and stayed indoors. "We have lived in fear, these boys rob at night and cut people's hands," said Joseph Laka, a smallholder farmer who sells copra in Kimbe. He said trucks stopped running at night because of the gang. He called the police action relief.

Human rights groups often question such high death tolls in PNG police operations. A spokesperson for a local church group in Kimbe said the number is alarming and asked for an independent review. Police said the incident was captured on body cameras and will be reviewed by internal affairs. The commander said officers followed rules of engagement.

Papua New Guinea's law-and-order situation in West New Britain has worsened this year with illegal guns flowing from logging camps. Last month, two police officers were injured in a similar ambush. The provincial governor said he supports more patrols but wants investigations to be transparent. He will meet families of the dead.

As of afternoon, the highway was open but under heavy police presence. Checkpoints were set up every 5 km. Police asked anyone who was robbed by the gang to come forward. The recovered weapons were displayed at Kimbe police station for identification.

The case is now with the internal investigations unit. Police said no arrests beyond the 12 dead are expected now, but they are hunting two more suspects who fled into bush during the exchange. The search continued at dusk.