Papua New Guinea police have detained five individuals linked to the brutal attacks in the Angoram district that resulted in the deaths of approximately 25 people last week.
Scott Waide, a correspondent from RNZ Pacific in PNG, reported that the main perpetrators who initiated the assaults on three remote villages in East Sepik have not yet been apprehended.
These attackers, estimated to be around 30 young individuals, targeted the villages of Tamara, Tambari, and Agrumara, reportedly due to a land dispute, and remain armed and at large.
Hundreds of people have been displaced by the violence, with survivors reportedly seeking refuge in the bushes.
Waide stated that no government presence or assistance has been provided to the survivors, who are in desperate need of food and help.
East Sepik governor Allan Bird noted that tribal violence continues to worsen in the country.
In a statement to RNZ Pacific, Angoram villager Andrew Sangi expressed disappointment over the government’s lack of active involvement in resolving the issue.