The National Capital District (NCD) and Central Province police have confirmed the conflict on the 14th of October in 8mile Port Moresby occurred over theft.
The Acting Commander of Police for Central province and NCD, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Peter Guiness confirmed in a statement that the conflict erupted after a man from Marawaka in the Eastern Highlands province was caught stealing in a house.
ACP Guiness stressed that the man was captured and seriously wounded. He was then taken to be treated at Six Mile Hospital, but he managed to escape. Upon his escape and returning to Eight Mile, his tribesmen retaliated against those who had caught him, which then led to the conflict.
Around 8:44AM to 9:00 AM on Wednesday 16th October, the fight erupted. A lone policeman arrived to pick up a staff member and confronted a group armed with bows, arrows, and bush knives. Despite his calls to stop, they ignored him. While the policeman managed to save some individuals, one man from Marawaka was killed.
ACP Guinness said backup police units arrived and stopped the fight and transported the body of the deceased to the hospital morgue.
The police homicide team arrived on the scene, identified witnesses, and began investigating the man’s death. They have identified possible suspects and are working tirelessly to apprehend those involved in the fight, murder, and theft.
Meanwhile, ACP Guinness further added that the incident at Gordons this morning was in relation to a fight that happened yesterday where a bus- 16 crew had a confrontation with a vendor where the vendor was seriously wounded. The vendor, according to the police, is also from Enga. He said during the fight several vehicles were damaged. Police quickly responded to the fighting and contained the situation. He said the situation is contained but things are still tense.
“Otherwise, the situation around the city is quiet with police officers patrolling the streets in and around the city.”
“People moving around the city are encouraged to take extra precautions because police won’t be at all the locations.”
“It’s best before you leave your house, you plan your day, so you come early, do your business and go home early. With the influx of people coming into the city the crime rate had also increased,” he said.
ACP Guiness concluded by admitting that the police are outnumbered, and now call on the government to seriously look at implementing the Vagrancy Act that will help control the movement of people.
“We do respect their right to move but it must be genuine when travelling into the city or town.”