Deadly Ambush Claims 50+ Lives in Papua New Guinea HighlandsPapua New Guinea’s remote Highlands region was rocked by tragedy as at least 53 lives were lost in a brutal ambush.
A national police spokesperson briefed reporters that the victims lost their lives in a shooting incident during a tribal dispute in the Enga Province over the weekend.
Authorities have called for restraint as they anticipate a rise in the death toll from the recent violence. Although violence has been a persistent issue in the Highlands area, these killings are regarded as the most severe in years.
Police have started collecting bodies at the scene near the town of Wabag – roughly 600km (373 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby.
According to a national police spokesperson speaking to reporters, the victims were fatally shot amidst a tribal conflict in the Enga Province over the weekend.
Authorities have called for restraint as they anticipate a rise in the death toll from the recent violence. Although violence has been a persistent issue in the Highlands area, these killings are regarded as the most severe in years.
Police have commenced the retrieval of bodies at the location close to the town of Wabag, which lies about 600km (373 miles) northwest of the capital city, Port Moresby.
‘This is by far the largest [killing] I’ve seen in Enga, maybe in all of Highlands as well,’ Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Acting Supt George Kakas said, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
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‘We’re all devastated, we’re all mentally stressed out. It’s really hard to comprehend.’
Last July, an intensifying tribal conflict, frequently centered around disputes over land and wealth distribution, prompted a three-month lockdown in Enga Province. During this period, police enforced a curfew and imposed travel restrictions to maintain order.
The escalation of clashes in recent years has been exacerbated by the influx of illegal firearms, resulting in heightened violence and sustaining the cycle of conflict. Governor Peter Ipatas observed warning signs of impending violence preceding the ambush, according to reports from ABC.
‘From a provincial perspective, we knew this fight was going to be on and we [alerted] the security forces last week to make sure they took appropriate action to ensure this didn’t occur.’
The issue of security remains a top priority for PNG. In response to recent unrest, including rioting and looting that claimed the lives of at least 15 people, the government declared a state of emergency last month.
Australia – one of the country’s closest allies – said news of the killings was “very disturbing”.
‘We’re providing considerable support, particularly for training police officers and for security in Papua New Guinea,’ Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a radio interview on Monday.