Teacher, family killed in Enga

A teacher at Wabag Secondary School in Enga and his family were among six people ambushed and killed at Saris village in Kompiam on Friday.
John Peyapege, his wife and their five-year-old son were among those killed by gunmen.
Enga acting police commander Epenes Nili told The National yesterday that there was an ongoing tribal fight between the Sambe and the Tinalapin tribes.
“I have sent police and Defence Force soldiers to monitor the situation,” he said.
“They cannot overnight there but do patrols and monitor the situation only during the daytime.”
Nili said it was unfortunate that those killed were innocent people from different tribes, the Wagin and Walumin, which were not involved in the tribal fight.
He said those killed were travelling on two vehicles to attend to a bride price ceremony.
They were attacked by gunmen and the vehicles went off the road into a river.
“I cannot confirm the exact number of deaths at the moment, but some said six people died while others said three,” Nili said.
“I have sent a team of police detectives to do investigation and a proper report is expected to be given to me tomorrow (today).”
Kompiam High School principal Nelson Keke confirmed the six deaths and said the situation was very tense.
“It’s a sad incident where many innocent people have lost their lives,” he said.
Former Kompiam local-level government president Ngee Londokai, while condemning the killing, said tribal fighting in Kompiam was escalating.
He urged district and provincial administrations to provide immediate intervention and ease the lawlessness.
“We community leaders from the district are exhausted because all avenues of peace mediation communication were exhausted,” Londokai said.
He said the tribal fights in the district involved the Yawans and Tinalapin tribes and now the Tinalapin and Sambe tribes.
Londokai said most schools and hospitals were closed and the people were suffering due to lack of basic services.
“For the good of the district, intervention from the district and provincial administrations is immediately needed to bring lasting peace to the community,” he said.