It has been confirmed this afternoon by Police in Eastern Highlands Province that the Managing Director of PNG Ports Corporation, Mr. Fego Kiniafa was killed in an altercation that occurred early hours of this morning.
EHP Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Michael Welly stated that between the hours from 12-1am this morning, when he got involved in an altercation at Nagamiyufa near Goroka. “It is reported that Mr. Kiniafa had allegedly shot and wounded an aggressor in the neck over a certain number of alcoholic beverages, then in retaliation members of the community attacked and killed Kiniafa,” Welly said.
It is believed that there were 4 involved in the brutal murder of the MD. The former was taken to the Goroka General Hospital where it is reported that he is currently in stable condition while the relatives of the deceased have also laid demands for the arrest of the suspects involved in the altercation. “They have demanded that the suspects surrender in 72 hours, that’s the first demand. At the moment the Police Station Commander in Goroka has taken control of the situation and we have men on the ground to keep an eye out for any future incidents,” said PPC Welly.
The PPC has appealed to both the relatives of the deceased to not take up arms or retaliate as at the moment the Goroka Show is underway, and many of those that are now in the Province are tourists and this any violence at this time would paint a bad picture of the Province. “We have international tourists in town and I would like to appeal to the people to let the police deal with the situation,” he said.
Being in a very close relationship with the deceased, Superintendent Welly urged the tribesman to not take justice into their own hands, but to let the law take it’s course. Investigations are underway to determine the actual accounts of the incident. It is understood that the body of the deceased is now resting in the Morgue at the Goroka General Hospital