Nadi police are investigating nine religious statue thefts reported on Friday, 22 August, spanning three Korociri properties, Nakurakura, and Sagayam Road in Nadi. The incidents appear to have occurred within a short time frame and involve a mix of statues and other items.
– Korociri: Five statues and a clay lamp were stolen from three properties between 12pm and 1pm.
– Nakurakura: A 33-year-old man reported the theft of three religious statues from his property earlier that morning.
– Sagayam Road: A 35-year-old man discovered a statue had been stolen from his prayer room.
Police say a dedicated team is pursuing several leads and working to identify those responsible; investigations remain ongoing.
A related report on the same day notes that the nine statues were all Hanuman idols. This aligns with a broader pattern of sacrilege and theft at places of worship reported across Fiji in recent weeks. Authorities have responded with dedicated taskforces, including units from the Southern Division and K9 teams, and have conducted house-to-house inquiries to gather information. Temple committees and faith leaders have urged the public to report anything suspicious and to support ongoing investigations, emphasizing unity across diverse faiths as a foundation for protection and harmony.
There is a sense of cautious optimism that strengthened protective measures and continued collaboration between police and communities can safeguard places of worship and prevent further acts of sacrilege.
Editor notes for editors:
– Consider following up with updates on arrests, recovered items, and any new security measures implemented at affected sites to provide readers with a clear trajectory of the investigation and community responses.
– If possible, include comments from temple committees or community leaders to add perspective on how communities are adapting and improving vigilance.
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