Kinshasa, 28.10.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX. On October 25, the National Police conducted an operation to dismantle a vast organized crime network operating out of the village of Yakote in the Yahuma Territory. The action was part of direct orders from the Governor of the Tshopo Province to restore the rule of law in the region, which is experiencing an increase in cases of theft, insecurity, and lawlessness. Several community leaders have expressed concern to local authorities about the situation, and PHC recently filed a complaint with provincial authorities about several increasingly violent and armed attacks on its staff.
The illegal activities in the village of Yakote were reported by the Yahuma Territory Administrator and village leaders in the territory during PHC's social action monitoring meetings between community leaders, administrative authorities, and company representatives. One such meeting was held on October 21, 2022, to discuss the progress of planned activities in 2022. During the meeting, community leaders noted that in addition to stealing from the company, those involved in the thefts had become very violent towards other community members and posed a continuous threat even to community property.
On October 25, 2022, the police commander organized a mission to restore order and observance of the law. The police commander requisitioned PHC's industrial guards, who are familiar with the layout of the plantations and surrounding villages, to show him where the criminals were hiding.
Upon seeing the police, the criminals attacked the officers with clubs, machetes, and even firearms, and thus injured one policeman. No community members and no attackers were injured. During the operation, police discovered more than 24 tons of stolen palm fruit bunches from PHC's plantation, as well as several illegal firearms.
PHC commends the provincial authorities for listening to the concerns of the company and community leaders about the growing insecurity, and for taking steps to restore the rule of law in the area. PHC remains committed to working with community leaders, administrative authorities, and local populations to achieve the common goal of ensuring a peaceful, secure and prosperous region, in line with PHC's new vision of moving toward shared prosperity.