Relatives of murdered teacher want police to hunt suspects

RELATIVES of a primary school teacher who was murdered in Southern Highlands’ Nipa-Kutubu want the police to hunt down the killers who have gone into hiding.
Jeffery Maren, believed to have been attacked by a group of men from Herep ward two under the influence of illicit liquor, died in the Mendi Hospital due to heavy loss of blood a few days after admission.
Herep ward one councillor David Tolis said the deceased, Maren, was attacked and killed over a minor argument.
“As a relative and councillor, people in the 39 wards of Nipa local level government should now put an end to the compensation payment thing and work with the police to have the killers arrested to face the law,” he said.
“For many years, problems created by a minority group have been shouldered by innocent people involved in compensation ceremonies, wasting their resources that gave freedom to criminals.”
Tolis said Maren had been a teacher for seven years and was married with three wives and 11 children.
He said most of the children were young and losing their father so early was heartbreaking and “the murderers cannot go unpunished”.
“Something needs to be done to bring the killers to justice,” he said.
“Community leaders and peace and good order committee led by chairman John Hembe, have urged the murder suspects to surrender to the police.
“It is not right for them to hide in their village and innocent people from their tribe are blamed.”
Community leader Robin Pip said currently, only two policemen were stationed at the Nipa Police Station – Sgt David Ongol and Snr Const Noel Oropa – and called on the district development authority to increase police manpower.
“People in Nipa cannot let killing to continue without any arrest to face the full force of the law,” he said. “This lack of police presence in the district have led to violence and killing.
“We want the Government to help send police to the district.”