Clansmen, family hand over murder suspect to police

A MAN, accused of killing a primary school teacher in Enga last year, has surrendered to police.
The suspect’s clansmen and family members handed him over at the Wabag police station on Wednesday to prevent an escalation of violence and retaliation from the dead man’s relatives.
The 23-year-old man, from the Kenowai clan of Malowan tribe, is being detained at the Wabag police cell for further interrogation by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for allegedly killing the teacher.
He is accused of killing Ben Aipo, of the Tamanga clan.
Both are apparently from the same Malowan tribe of Laiagam district in Enga.
They were in a drinking party when the alleged offender chopped Aipo with a bush knife in an argument over a bottle of beer.
The incident occurred at Mapumanda village in Laiagam on New Year’s Eve.
Aipo was rushed to the Wabag General Hospital but pronounce dead due to heavy loss of blood.
Provincial commander Chief Supt Joseph Tondop acknowledged and commended members of the Kenowai clan for helping police to hand over the murder suspect.
Tondop told the leaders at the Wabag police station that tribal fight was a major obstacle hindering Enga from progressing.
“I am happy now that you are setting a good precedence to the rest of Enga and at the same time you are setting yourself free from prison at your own village,” Tondop said.
“We launched a trouble free event last year because I observed that tribal fight was a serious issue in the province.
“I will maintain my stance that there will be no compensation for killing and the suspect must face the full force of the law.
“Today we are living in a modern world so our way of living in the past must change.
“I am focused on stopping tribal fight in 2019 and I will not tolerate the behaviour of payback killing.”
Tondop also called for the surrender of other suspects.