Fight shuts down Jiwaka

 MEMBERS of a tribe stormed into Banz town in Jiwaka yesterday attacking people and kidnapping three women.

Police reacted by forcing business houses, markets and schools in the town to close when members of the Kuldka tribe residing at Sigri arrived in a convoy of vehicles.

The three women were at the market when they were kidnapped at gunpoint. An elderly man and a youth received bush knives wound and were taken to the Kudjip Nazarene hospital.

Vendors at the Banz market lost fruits, vegetables and cash after the attack. 

According to Jiwaka police, the problem started at Tolu on Wednesday night when Kuldka tribe businessman Peter Eling and North Waghi district administrator John Kumia from the Bableng tribe were involved in a car accident.

Eling was driving to Toluand Kumia was driving back to Banz when their vehicles collided. They believe that the row started from there.

Provincial police commander Supt Simon Nigi condemned the action of the Kuldka tribe members.

Nigi said Banz town was owned by Papua New Guinea and not by a tribe or a clan.

He said the manner which they acted was totally wrong.

Nigi said quickly they have to call in the backing up of the Task force from Mt Hagen in order to protect public properties and business houses and lives of the public.

“I have the names of those that have got involved and I want them to surrender immediately.

“I want Peter Eling to come to the station and explain his grievance and at the same time all illegal firearms has to be handed over to police,” he said.

Nigi said police in Jiwaka had told the Kuldka tribe to surrender all illegal firearms.

“I’m still waiting for Eling to come to my office and explain why he did this,” Nigi said.

“I have the names of those people who fired the shots and want them to hand me over the firearms and themselves as I do not want to use the force to hunt them down,” Nigi warned.

Police officers at scene said they were caught by surprise whenshots were fired.

They said they were preparing for a parade and most officers were at their homes.