Massacre in Papua New Guinea Claims Lives of 26, Mostly Children

In a tragic incident in Papua New Guinea, at least 26 individuals, predominantly children, have lost their lives in a brutal massacre that resulted in the destruction of three villages. The horrific events, which included decapitations and bodies being taken by crocodiles, are believed to stem from a territorial dispute intertwined with accusations of sorcery. The violence occurred in the remote East Sepik province, prompting fears that the death toll may rise as search efforts continue for the missing. More than 200 residents were forced to flee their homes as the attackers set fire to their villages. Acting provincial police commander James Baugen described the scene as "very terrible," noting that a group of approximately 30 young men was responsible for the killings. Survivors have sought refuge at a local police station but remain too frightened to identify the perpetrators. Baugen highlighted the grim reality that some bodies were left behind and subsequently taken by crocodiles into the swamp. The underlying issues contributing to such violence include accusations of sorcery and disputes over land ownership, which is often held collectively by tribes rather than individuals in Papua New Guinea. Blake Johnson, an analyst at the Australian Security Policy Institute, remarked that while the East Sepik massacre is particularly gruesome, it is not an isolated incident, as similar mass killings have occurred in the country this year. In May, eight people were killed and 30 homes were destroyed in fighting in Enga province, while a separate ambush in February resulted in the deaths of at least 26 men in the same region.