Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the brutal attacks in Angoram district, Papua New Guinea, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 25 people last week.
Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific correspondent in PNG, reported that the masterminds behind the attacks on three remote villages in East Sepik remain at large. These individuals are still armed and have evaded capture after orchestrating assaults on Tamara, Tambari, and Agrumara villages, believed to be motivated by a land dispute involving around 30 young attackers.
The violence has displaced hundreds, with survivors reportedly hiding in the bushes. Waide noted that there have been no governmental aid or presence to support the survivors, who are in urgent need of food and assistance.
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird has acknowledged the ongoing deterioration of tribal violence in the country. A villager from Angoram, Andrew Sangi, mentioned that the government has not been proactive in addressing the issue.