Five peace officers shot dead in Enga

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
FIVE peace mediators on their way to negotiate a settlement between two warring tribes were ambushed and shot dead in Wabag, Enga province.
The dead men were from the Mangalya tribe and were on their way to negotiate peace between the Ambulin and the Wapukin tribes on Wednesday afternoon when they were mowed down.
Two others were seriously injured with bullet wounds and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Other tribesmen who were accompanying them fled for their lives.
The incident happened near Akon village, situated between Wabag and Wapenamanda towns.
Acting provincial police commander Insp Martin Lakari said yesterday the peace negotiators were invited by people from the Ambulin tribe to spearhead negotiations for peace.
He said that on Wednesday, the Ambulin tribesmen asked the peace mediators from Mangalya tribe to come into their area for peace talks.
Mr Lakari said as the peace mediators were heading into the area, they were ambushed by gunmen who killed them and injured two others while the others with them managed to escape.
Mr Lakari said the Mangalya tribesmen were shocked and angry about what happened, especially when the men were on a peace mission.
They were particularly disappointed that the men had no links to their conflict.
Mr Lakari drove to the area after receiving news of the killings, and helped transport the dead bodies back to their village.
He also urged the relatives of the dead not to retaliate.
He said police will hunt down the suspects and charge them with willful murder.


 

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