Sorcery killers rob Mendi Hospital morgue of 3 bodies
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Sorcery killers rob Mendi Hospital morgue of three bodies
PORT MORESBY: No matter how ridiculous or bizarre it may sound, Papua New Guineans are capable of stealing anything - even bodies of the dead in a hospital mortuary.
The dead are not allowed to Rest In Peace (R.I.P) as what happened in Mendi Hospital’s mortuary on Saturday (Jan 18, 2020).
Suspected sorcery killers raided the mortuary and robbed it of three bodies that were recovered downstream of Southern Highlands’ Mendi River in the first week of this month.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the details of the unusual robbery as reported by The National:
Morgue robbed of three bodies
By JAMES GUMUNO and PISAI GUMARSUSPECTED sorcery killers raided Mendi Hospital’s mortuary on Saturday and robbed it of three bodies that were recovered downstream of Southern Highlands’ Mendi River in the first week of this month.
And, in Eastern Highlands (EHP), at least seven people have been killed, sending more than 100 families fleeing from their villages following a sorcery-related “execution” of a girl in December.
And, in Eastern Highlands (EHP), at least seven people have been killed, sending more than 100 families fleeing from their villages following a sorcery-related “execution” of a girl in December.
Southern Highlands commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari said the suspected sorcery killers held up and threatened the mortuary keeper with death on Saturday night before carting away three bodies – the remains of two women and a man.
The National reported on Jan 9, quoting Western End commander Asst Comm (ACP) Kaiglo Ambane, that police believed sorcery-related mass killings had been carried out in Southern Highlands’ Karintz after the bodies were recovered from the river banks near Mendi town.
The body of the woman was found on Dec 31, the body of a man was found on Jan 4 and the body of another woman was recovered on Jan 5.
Chief Supt Lakari said the mortuary raiders forced the keeper to open the door and started removing the bodies when all were fast asleep.
“We believe the bodies were taken to Karintz but no one knows exactly where the bodies have been buried,” he added.
Chief Supt Lakari said the bodies were left in the morgue awaiting relatives to come forward for identification before post-mortems could be conducted.
“Three weeks have passed following my appeal to the relatives but no one responded.”
He said the two women and a man were killed over sorcery allegations and their bodies thrown into the river.
“Police have gone around asking people about the burial sites but no one is cooperating,” he said.
“Everyone approached say they did not know,” he lamented.
Chief Supt Lakari said: “This is making our investigations extremely difficult but we will not give up until the culprits are caught.
“When we receive vital information, we will visit the burial sites to recover the remains for post-mortems.
“Anyone with information can contact me directly on 5491 087 and I will personally investigate.
“We are dealing with animal-minded people who do not respect human lives.
“They must not be allowed to get away with murder.”
He also urged immediate relatives of the dead to also cooperate and help the police in investigations.
In EHP, Jomposa villagers fled to safety, seeking refuge, after they were attacked by Jaffa villagers who burnt down their houses, killing domesticated livestock and destroying vegetable gardens.
The ongoing fighting and killing are between Jomposa and Jaffa villagers in Kainantu’s Kamano 1 (K-1).
The death toll stands at five Jomposa men and two Jaffa gunmen.
The National had reported similar sorcery-related slayings in neighbouring Maropa Village, near Aiyura, in Obura-Wonenara on Dec 29.
An elder in Maropa was alleged to have engaged in sorcery causing the death of a village court magistrate in Ainora.
Ainora villagers retaliated and killed a man and his father on Dec 29.
The man’s mother was slashed on the face and is still fighting for her life in Goroka General Hospital.
Two women and a young girl were also stabbed and admitted to the same hospital.
Aiyura police told The National the assailants and killers were roaming around killing villagers between Maropa and Ainora.
EHP police commander David Seine Jr could not be reached for comment on the killing in K-1.
However, Kainantu station commander Peter Roari told The National that police had no clue about the fighting and killing in K-1 because a ceasefire was agreed last November for rivals groups to lay down their weapons.
“I cannot confirm or verify the reports.
“I will deny because if there is fighting again, then the case is new and police are not aware of it because no one from rival groups have reported to police,” Roari said.
A source in K-1 who requested anonymity told The National that Jaffa villagers attacked Jomposa villagers at about 10am on Jan 12 and killed an elderly man and a man in his mid-30s.
In retaliation, Jomposa villagers shot dead two Jaffa gunmen, sparking more violence and destruction of properties.
The K-1 source said Jaffa villagers then attacked the Jomposa people, killing three people, one in his late 60s, his son in mid-30s and a man in his late 40s.
On Jan 12, Jaffa killers struck again, killing another two Jomposa villagers.
“Fighting and killing related to allegations of sorcery practices are really affecting the education and health of our children, women, market businesses and social services,” the K-1 source added.
Jaffa and Jomposa are in Kainantu’s ward 4 and the villagers access health services in the Jaffa community health post built by Japan International Cooperation Agency last year and classes at Jomposa Primary School are disrupted.
The National reported on Jan 9, quoting Western End commander Asst Comm (ACP) Kaiglo Ambane, that police believed sorcery-related mass killings had been carried out in Southern Highlands’ Karintz after the bodies were recovered from the river banks near Mendi town.
The body of the woman was found on Dec 31, the body of a man was found on Jan 4 and the body of another woman was recovered on Jan 5.
Chief Supt Lakari said the mortuary raiders forced the keeper to open the door and started removing the bodies when all were fast asleep.
“We believe the bodies were taken to Karintz but no one knows exactly where the bodies have been buried,” he added.
Chief Supt Lakari said the bodies were left in the morgue awaiting relatives to come forward for identification before post-mortems could be conducted.
“Three weeks have passed following my appeal to the relatives but no one responded.”
He said the two women and a man were killed over sorcery allegations and their bodies thrown into the river.
“Police have gone around asking people about the burial sites but no one is cooperating,” he said.
“Everyone approached say they did not know,” he lamented.
Chief Supt Lakari said: “This is making our investigations extremely difficult but we will not give up until the culprits are caught.
“When we receive vital information, we will visit the burial sites to recover the remains for post-mortems.
“Anyone with information can contact me directly on 5491 087 and I will personally investigate.
“We are dealing with animal-minded people who do not respect human lives.
“They must not be allowed to get away with murder.”
He also urged immediate relatives of the dead to also cooperate and help the police in investigations.
In EHP, Jomposa villagers fled to safety, seeking refuge, after they were attacked by Jaffa villagers who burnt down their houses, killing domesticated livestock and destroying vegetable gardens.
The ongoing fighting and killing are between Jomposa and Jaffa villagers in Kainantu’s Kamano 1 (K-1).
The death toll stands at five Jomposa men and two Jaffa gunmen.
The National had reported similar sorcery-related slayings in neighbouring Maropa Village, near Aiyura, in Obura-Wonenara on Dec 29.
An elder in Maropa was alleged to have engaged in sorcery causing the death of a village court magistrate in Ainora.
Ainora villagers retaliated and killed a man and his father on Dec 29.
The man’s mother was slashed on the face and is still fighting for her life in Goroka General Hospital.
Two women and a young girl were also stabbed and admitted to the same hospital.
Aiyura police told The National the assailants and killers were roaming around killing villagers between Maropa and Ainora.
EHP police commander David Seine Jr could not be reached for comment on the killing in K-1.
However, Kainantu station commander Peter Roari told The National that police had no clue about the fighting and killing in K-1 because a ceasefire was agreed last November for rivals groups to lay down their weapons.
“I cannot confirm or verify the reports.
“I will deny because if there is fighting again, then the case is new and police are not aware of it because no one from rival groups have reported to police,” Roari said.
A source in K-1 who requested anonymity told The National that Jaffa villagers attacked Jomposa villagers at about 10am on Jan 12 and killed an elderly man and a man in his mid-30s.
In retaliation, Jomposa villagers shot dead two Jaffa gunmen, sparking more violence and destruction of properties.
The K-1 source said Jaffa villagers then attacked the Jomposa people, killing three people, one in his late 60s, his son in mid-30s and a man in his late 40s.
On Jan 12, Jaffa killers struck again, killing another two Jomposa villagers.
“Fighting and killing related to allegations of sorcery practices are really affecting the education and health of our children, women, market businesses and social services,” the K-1 source added.
Jaffa and Jomposa are in Kainantu’s ward 4 and the villagers access health services in the Jaffa community health post built by Japan International Cooperation Agency last year and classes at Jomposa Primary School are disrupted.
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