Papua New Guinea: Authorities confirm foreign national kidnapped in Northern Province

Event

Authorities confirmed that armed people robbed a resort in Tufi, Northern Province, and briefly kidnapped a Filipino employee. According to police, seven gunmen abducted the Philippine national, who managed the hotel, from his home and forced him and another employee to open a nearby shop. The attackers then robbed the shop and took the manager, fleeing by boat toward Popondetta. Fishers found the hostage alone on an island near Tufi the following morning.

Tufi is approximately 240 km (150 miles) east of Port Moresby.

Context

While the threat of kidnapping is moderate in Papua New Guinea, such attacks usually stem from business and personal or communal grievances. Reported abductions of foreign nationals occur less frequently. Details of the event suggest that the attackers targeted the man due to his position at the hotel. There are no immediate indications his nationality played a role in the incident. Officials suspect that a criminal organization that operates along the country's southeast coast was responsible for the robbery and kidnapping. Authorities say the group has committed multiple crimes between Milne Bay and Northern Province, including maritime piracy.