Enga on three-month lockdown

THE Enga provincial government has declared a three-month lockdown for the province to address the increase in tribal conflicts in the six districts.
Governor Sir Peter Ipatas said the lockdown would include curfews and travel restrictions.
The decision was reached following a special provincial peace and good order committee meeting last night in the provincial capital of Wabag.
Sir Peter said Enga province had experienced an unprecedented level of terror and destruction from tribal conflicts following the 2022 General Election (GE22).
“The new trend of tribal warfare goes against all cultural norms and practices and is being perpetuated by criminal warlords who are in possession of illegal firearms.”
“Wapenamanda, Kandep, Porgera, Kompiam, Laigam and Wabag – have been declared fighting zones, with curfews from 9pm to 6am starting today,” he said.
Sir Peter said the drastic measures would assist the security forces in conducting search and inspection of vehicles and properties to seize illegal firearms and weapons and arrest criminals.
“These measures are necessary to arrest the escalation of tribal warfare due to the uncontrolled transportation and movement of illegal firearms and criminal warlords who have been responsible for widespread destruction of public and private properties, loss of lives and the displacement of many of villages,” he said.
Provincial police commander George Kakas said the situation in Wapenamanda had worsened.
“We have police and defence on the ground but there is fighting in the other six districts,” he said.