RSIPF calls on villagers to respect equipment used to kill crocodiles

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) calls on members of the community to respect equipment that is used by its officers to kill crocodiles.

The call is being made after some hooks that members of the Police Response Team used to trap crocodiles were removed during a recent operation at Takwa in North Malaita.

Supervising Director of the National Response Department, Superintendent Steve Waiwori says, “Although this unfortunate incident of stealing happened at Takwa, my officers managed to kill one crocodile there and two others at Ofakwasi in East Fataleka, Malaita Province.”

Superintendent Waiwori says, “PRT officers were deployed to the area of operation after we received requests from Takwa and Ofakwasi communities. At Ofakwasi it was reported that a crocodile had attacked a young girl on 1 January 2019. A 12-year-old girl luckily survived the attack. She sustained injuries to her knees and thighs and was admitted to Atoifi Hospital.”

“Although there were some delay in the operation due to the bad weather at that time, the PRT officers managed to kill three crocodiles and I would like to thank those who supported police on the other hand during the operation,” Superintendent Waiwori explains.

He adds:

“I want to encourage members of the community to report any sightings of crocodiles to the nearest police station and at the same time call on people to assist and respect PRT officers when they come to try and kill the crocodiles in their area.”

The sighting of any crocodile can be reported to the PRT on 23824 or call the police free toll line 999.