- Mass killing in Papua New Guinea village
- At least 26 dead, including children
- Perpetrators identified as armed gang
A remote community in Papua New Guinea has been devastated by a brutal attack that claimed the lives of at least 26 people, including 16 children.
A gang of over 30 men, armed with guns, knives, and axes, launched a series of assaults on the village in the early hours of July 16 and 17.
Survivors recount harrowing tales of terror as they witnessed neighbors being speared while fleeing in canoes. The attackers displayed extreme violence, raping and killing victims before torching their homes. One woman described hiding in a river, clinging to a log as she listened to the screams of those being murdered.
Local authorities are struggling to respond to the crisis. The Angoram district, where the massacre occurred, has a mere 20 police officers to serve a population of 100,000. National police have only recently arrived on the scene, over a week after the attacks. Despite this, authorities believe they have identified the perpetrators, a group calling themselves “I don’t care.”
The violence is believed to be rooted in a long-standing dispute over land and resources. This is not an isolated incident; similar attacks fueled by land ownership conflicts have plagued the region in recent years. Governor Allan Bird has expressed deep concern over the escalating lawlessness in the area.
The international community has condemned the massacre, with the UN human rights chief calling for accountability. As the investigation unfolds, the full extent of the tragedy is yet to be determined, with fears the death toll could rise.
