Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Turi, Commander of the National Capital District and Central Province, has confirmed a string of violent incidents that have left three people dead. Active police investigations are underway, and authorities are urgently appealing for eyewitnesses to come forward.

Speaking to PNG Hausbung, ACP Turi confirmed that the first fatal incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, resulting in the death of a young man. Police acted swiftly following the incident, apprehending two suspects who remain in custody.

A second fatality was reported early Sunday morning at Gerehu, where a man was allegedly murdered. The killing prompted an emotional gathering of relatives and family members at Gerehu Stage 2, triggering immediate concerns over potential retaliatory violence. Police units intervened quickly to de-escalate the gathering and secure the location.

Turi acknowledged that volatile tensions threatened to spark a broader confrontation. He personally stepped in to diffuse the standoff, noting that he did so in his dual capacity as the regional police commander and as a long-time resident of the Gerehu community.

Investigators are urging anyone who witnessed either the Saturday afternoon incident or the Sunday morning murder to come forward with information. Turi strongly appealed to the public to maintain restraint, allow the legal process to run its course, and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

Additionally, Commander Turi confirmed that detectives from the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CID) alongside the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary’s Forensics Unit are scheduled to deploy to a crime scene at 15-Mile tomorrow. The specialized teams will conduct an extensive scene examination and harvest evidence linked to Friday's violent clash between two local ethnic groups.

A comprehensive police brief is expected to be released later this week once CID teams complete their initial inquiries and compile forensic findings.

In light of the recent unrest, Turi urged city residents to maintain high vigilance when traveling through public spaces and to avoid loitering after hours. He reminded the public that while police are maximizing presence, community members share a collective responsibility to act lawfully and prioritize public safety.

Condemning the string of homicides, Turi described the loss of life as entirely avoidable and called for immediate mutual respect between communities to prevent further tragedy