A drunken brawl at Goroka’s Hoffmans Club swiftly turned into violent altercations that spilled over to the public area in Goroka town.
More tensions were raised when attackers targeted local leader, Mr. Jeffery Sasue and took his car keys before running away.
The dispute reportedly extended to the Main Market crossroads, resulting in the altercations that broke out this morning between Sasue’s followers and the perpetrators who have not yet been identified.
The attackers’ identities are still unknown despite efforts to stop the violence, and authorities are now using information from vehicle registration numbers to locate them.
Eastern Highlands Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Michael Welly, has confirmed that Goroka Police have begun a broad search for the perpetrators in response to the rising hostilities, focusing their efforts in nearby provinces such as Simbu, Hagen, Lae, Jiwaka, and Madang.
But confrontations are still breaking out throughout Goroka town, which emphasizes how unstable things are.
Speaking to the public, the PPC warned against opportunistic conducts and emphasized that there will be no tolerance for those who cause disruptions.
While officials attempt to bring peace among the chaos, business activities in Goroka have been temporarily halted.
In order to secure justice and stop the violence from escalating further, law enforcement officials are stepping up their efforts to capture the offenders.
It has been recommended that residents use caution and abstain from any behaviors that could make the situation worse.
Police continue to closely monitor Goroka town due to the high level of tension, and precautions have been taken to contain and deal with any future violent outbursts.