Statement

The Fiji Police Force would like to correct the misconceptions on social media regarding the high number of missing person’s cases that are supposedly linked to abduction and human trafficking.

Statistics of missing persons since 2019 does show pending reports that remain open, however most are cases of those reported to be missing at sea.

For 2019 there are six pending missing person’s reports.

Of the six reports, five are reports of missing at sea and a case of a 3-year old child who was reported missing from Kalekana.

In 2020 there is a pending case of missing at sea and a case involving a 31-year old woman reported missing at the Tavua Police Station.

In 2021 there are four cases of missing at high seas and the case of 7-year old child reported missing in Taveuni.

As per the cases of missing persons recorded in 2022, there are 10 pending cases, which include 2 cases of missing at high seas and 6 pending reports of missing persons for the month of September and October.

There have been a high number of youths and juveniles reported missing throughout these years, but as per the statistics they have returned home.

To put things in perspective, Police record an average of 20 to 30 cases of missing persons a month.

For the period of the 1st of September to the 8th of October, 25 missing persons cases were closed as those reported who were mostly aged between 16 and 25 years had returned home after they were found at a friends or relatives place.

I would like to reassure all Fijians that there is no such abduction or human trafficking ring in existence where a group of men are abducting young girls and children.

Contrary to the popular narrative on social media and claims made by aspiring politicians claiming that young girls reported missing were being trafficked and forced into sexual and other forms of hard labour, we have yet to link any of the missing persons’ report to such illegal activities.

The Fiji Police would never intentionally not inform the general populace about a crime trend or a possible threat to the safety of the general public or in particular children.

Despite numerous requests for those positing information to come forward and assist Police with investigations to verify such claims, only one person has come forward with information, however investigators need more to proceed with the investigations.

Majority of the information being shared on social media alleging the abduction of young girls is false and should not be taken seriously.

I reiterate and assure Fijians that if there was a crime trend that is a threat to the general populace, Police will issue a public advisory to alert members of the public to take necessary precautions.

We urge social media users to be responsible, and in particular those in positions of influence and standing in our communities to be responsible in sharing unsubstantiated information as it will create unnecessary panic.

There are avenues available to all to source information for clarity purposes, and this could have been done to verify information about missing person’s cases.

Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho COMMISSIONER OF POLICE