Sepik land dispute turns ugly

By MAJELEEN YANEI
A MAN is dead, 11 people injured and at least 27 houses burnt in retaliation over a land dispute between two cousin brothers in East Sepik’s Wosera-Gawi last week.
Kuasaku ward councillor Theo Damke said Israel Akai from Kausaku village and the deceased Jonethan Bukindu from Moundu had been at loggerheads over a block of land which Bukindu resided on.
“On Monday morning, Akai and his daughter, when on their way to the sago plantation, approached Bukindu who was allegedly drunk and sitting at the roadside.
“Bukindu, when recalling the issue, allegedly hit them with a bush knife and they fled,” Damke said.
He said Kausaku villagers then retaliated and allegedly chopped off a Moundu man’s hand and attacked other innocent youths.
Damke said Moundu villagers along with the deceased then retaliated and burnt 27 houses in Kausaku and while in the act, Bukindu was allegedly shot with a gun where he died instantly.
“They buried the deceased and continued fighting for two days. Three Moundu men were slashed with bush-knives, one sustained gun wound and in critical condition and seven Kuasaku youths sustained severe wire-catapult wounds to different parts of their body,” he said.
Petiko ward councillor Philip Frangili said Wewak police on Thursday intervened and negotiated for the two villages to restore peace.
Bukivi primary school head teacher Jacob Korumini said most schools including Bukivi had suspended classes indefinitely with 365 students from Kuasaku, Nangda, Kamge, Nindiko and Tiyang villages affected.
He said law and order issues was getting out of hand.