CNN —At least 49 bodies were found at the site of a gun battle between tribes in Papua New Guinea’s remote highlands, police told CNN Monday, in a gruesome escalation of hostilities in the country.
Those killed were believed to be warring members of the Ambulin and Sikin tribes who were armed with “military style” automatic weapons, according to Enga Province Police Commander George Kakas.
It is home to hundreds of tribes across the archipelago’s remote terrain where tribal feuds often stem from land and wealth disputes.
Hostilities between the Ambulin and Sikin tribes began in 2021 over a piece of land and has since spiraled into a constant cycle of violence, Kakas said.
Members of the Amublin tribe had “got wind of the Sikin staging an attack early in the morning, so they were waiting for them – setting up an ambush,” Kakas told CNN.
Persons:
George Kakas, Kakas, ” Kakas, “, ”, ” Anthony Albanese, ” Albanese
Organizations:
CNN, Enga Province Police, Police, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio, Australia
Locations:
Papua, Enga Province, Lai, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Pacific, Australia