Tribal gang kills 8, wounds 20 in Papua New Guinea

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – At least eight people were killed and 20 others injured after a tribal armed gang in Papua New Guinea ambushed a rival group traveling back home under a security escort.

The slain included women and children and the incident happened last Tuesday after a court hearing, Port Moresby-based daily The National reported.

The armed gang opened fire at the truck carrying the group in northern Enga province. No policeman or soldier guarding the group was injured in the attack.

Members of the Mup and Pepet clans were at the court based in Wabag town. All the deceased and injured belonged to the Pepet clan.

The assailants are said to be from Akols tribe.

“It is alleged that the [men who staged the ambush] had been told [beforehand] of the convoy heading their way,” provincial police commander, Supt Ephenes Nili, told the newspaper.

“[But] they were not aware that there were policemen and soldiers in the convoy,” he added.

A country of 8.7 million people in deep Pacific, Papua New Guinea is a multi-ethnic nation where inter-clan clashes are a routine affair.

The officer said the convoy was “negotiating the road up the hill towards Nandi village, when the group came out of their hiding spots, [firing] indiscriminately on the vehicles.”

Councilor of the Mup tribe, Tembon Samson, has been arrested and charged with “breaching the preventive order in place.”

“We have also identified the suspects and are [hunting] for those responsible for the killings,” he added.

It was the second such instance in a week where armed gangs launched attacks in the area.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is expected to visit Enga this week to “continue talks to reopen the Pogera mine.”