The prime suspect that was allegedly involved in the massacre in Angoram where twenty-six Tambari villagers were brutally murdered had surrendered to the police.
According to the commander of Border Command Assistant Commissioner of Police, the suspect was identified through the video that went viral after they committed the offence. He said the suspect identified as Jerome Malakai of Tambari village, Angoram district in East Sepik surrendered to police officers at Pinang village in Angroma late in the afternoon yesterday (Monday 12th August, 2024).
“Police in Wewak had brought the suspect to Wewak Police station and is now detained for further investigation and arrest. The surrender of the main suspect was made possible after police officers and the village leaders worked closely to go through the videos by putting names on their faces and identifying the location of the suspects. I want to thank my officers for a well-organized operation that led to the main suspect’s surrender. At least one is now in custody the other will still come, NDranou said. ACP NDranou said police investigation will reveal why the man and his gang had done that by killing their village people. He said the killing had caught the attention of many people and the swift response by the police in apprehending one gives the public good feedback.
He said local police officers and the others who were brought in to assist are working closely with the community leaders to make sure those who are involved in the killing are apprehended and prosecuted.
“I want to call on the people of Tambari to help the police to give the names of those involved. Since one had been identified and is not in police custody the others must also come forward and surrender to police. The innocent relatives of those involved must not hide those culprits but bring them forward so they will face the law themselves for what they did. This will help keep the relatives of those involved isolated from the incident, NDranou added. ACP NDranou further added that the incident happened late last month in which lives and properties were gone and the people who were involved were more than 30 men who will be identified.