Violent Papua New Guinea Attack Leaves 26 Dead, Including Babies

The Papua New Guinea High Commission in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 8, 2024. Melanie Sun/The Epoch Times

More than two dozen people have been killed, and women and girls have allegedly been raped in a violent attack in the northwest of Papua New Guinea over a land dispute.

The United Nations has come out strongly condemning the brutal rape and killing of women and children in the Angoram district of East Sepik.

“At least 26 people were reportedly slaughtered in an outburst of violence following an alleged land dispute in the Sepik River villages of Tamara, Tambari, and Agrumara,” the United Nations said.

The U.N.’s resident coordinator Richard Howard described the incident as a profound violation of human rights and dignity.

Mr. Howard called on authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable, expressing that justice needs to be served for the victims and their families.

“The brutalisation of innocent villagers, especially the sexual violence against women and girls, is utterly unacceptable,” he said.

Mr. Howard said the U.N. stood in solidarity with the communities and urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the perpetrators.

“We look forward to working with the government of Papua New Guinea and other partners to ensure that the survivors receive the necessary support, such atrocities do not go unpunished, and underlying conditions in the affected communities are addressed so that these atrocities are prevented in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Papua New Guinea Representative Angela Kearney said there was a disturbing trend of tribal violence aimed at the most vulnerable, particularly women and children.

“What happened in East Sepik strikes at the heart of what we stand against—blatant disregard for life and dignity, particularly of the most defenceless among us.”

The U.N. said its priority was to make sure survivors are protected from further harm.

Babies and Children Killed

East Sepik Police Provincial Commander Senior Inspector James Baugen told local reporters the village was left with corpses.

“Most of those that were killed were breastfeeding babies and young children with their mothers,” he said.

Mr. Baugen said everyone had fled and was taking refuge at Angoram station.

“Most of the bodies we found, their heads were chopped off. Some are mothers who were trying to save their children from being slaughtered,” he told local media outlet the Post Courier.