The Upper Highlands provinces of Southern Highlands and Hela remains relatively quiet for the past few weeks except for Wapenamanda in Enga.
The on-going tribal fight in Wapenamanda is still continuing with another tribe now joining despite the signing of the Peace Agreement in Port Moresby last week.
The new tribe called Irokon came into the conflict after they were viciously attacked by a gunman from Yakuman at a recent polling booth during the recent LLG election near Mambisanda Rural Hospital.
Commander of the Special Operations in the Upper Highlands Anthony Wagambi Jnr led a reinforcement team based in Mendi into Wapenamanda early dawn yesterday (Sunday) to assist the Special Operations contingent (Mobile Squad MS2) and PNGDF soldiers based in Wapenamanda.
The new Irokon tribesmen launched a surprise attack on Saturday, just a day after the signing of the peace agreement on Yakuman tribe who are occupants of Wapenamanda station.
Members of the security force (police & soldiers) based at Wapenamanda acted swiftly to protect government facilities and brought the situation under control.
Tribesmen fired shots at the security forces who returned with warning shots to bring the situation under control.
Reinforcements of security forces lead by Commander Wagambi conversed into Wapenamanda early Sunday morning and assisted to quell the situation between the two warring tribes.
Commander Wagambi’s reinforcement team from the Special Operations remain the whole day at Wapenamanda and returned to their Command Base in Mendi last night.
The Yakuman tribesmen protested for lack of appropriate action by leaders to enforce the peace agreement and Saturday’s attack on them, set up road-blocks early this morning along the Wabag highway connecting the billion-kina Porgera mine.
The opposing Yangukim tribesmen retaliated and also set up roadblocks at their section of the Wabag highway.
Successful negotiations by PPC Enga and Special Operations Units managed to remove the roadblocks this morning making it now safe for commuters.
(Ends).
