 "Rapes and murders: How a gang called ‘I don’t care’ is spreading terror in Papua New Guinea")
In the three remote villages of East Sepik province, Papua New Guinea is reeling from a new wave of violence.
Last week, the once-peaceful communities were shattered when a youth gang known as ‘I don’t care’ launched brutal attacks, claiming lives of at least 26 people, including 16 children.
With fears that the number of casualties could climb above 50, the international community is increasingly alarmed by the escalating violence in the island country and its devastating impact on the local population.
UN rights chief Volker Turk conveyed his deep concern, saying, “The outbreak of such deadly violence in Papua New Guinea is both shocking and heart-wrenching.” He linked the attacks to long-standing disputes over land and lake rights.
As the tragedy unfolds, here’s a look at the concerning situation.
What happened?
Angoram Police Station commander inspector Peter Mandi told The Guardian that a gang of 30 armed men, that go by the name ‘I don’t care’ launched a series of violent attacks in the villages of Tamara, Tambari, and Angrumara in East Sepik’s Angoram district.
“Last Wednesday, on the 17th [July], the group armed with guns, machetes and wire catapults attacked Angrumara village, burned houses and killed an elderly man and a 5-year-old boy,” Mandi told the British publication.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“The next day, they attacked Tambari village, raped women and young girls and then slashed them with machetes, young children were also slashed with the machetes,” he added.
The inspector further said that the current death toll stands at three people in Angrumara and 23 in Tambari, with 16 children. It remains unclear when the gang attacked the Tamara.
The villages are located in a remote area that is difficult to access by road and local police only arrived in the area on Tuesday, with reinforcements from national police arriving on Thursday. Police said they would search for the gang along the Sepik River and expected that the death toll would increase.
Conveying his condolences to the victims’ families, Angoram MP Salio Waipo, who is also the forest minister, told the local news outlet, The National, “This is the first time for such (mass killing) to happen in Angoram. The recent killing of such a large number has shocked the people of the district."
According to The Guardian, many of the survivors fled into the surrounding bush. A Tambari massacre survivor who managed to reach the police station in Angoram revealed that all the homes in their village had been reduced to ashes, with villagers escaping with just clothes on their backs. The police statement added that the community is now living in fear of more attacks by the gang.
The National reported that government ward members from two other communities Yuaruma and Krinjabin, reported receiving threats of similar attacks on their villages.
Mandi stated that the motive behind the gang’s attacks remains unknown and urged for more police resources to apprehend the gang members, all of whom are still at large.
The reaction
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the island country’s authorities “to conduct prompt, impartial, and transparent investigations and to ensure those responsible are held to account”.
“It is also vital that victims and their families receive reparations, including adequate housing, effective protection against further attacks, and necessary psychosocial support,” he said.
Angoram MP Waipo also appealed to the surrounding Kanda tribe for assistance, asking them to provide shelter, clothing, and food to the displaced. He also assured that efforts are underway to organise tents, food, and clothing for those affected by the violence, The National reported.
Waipo further urged the families of the victims to remain calm and cooperate with peace and police officers.
Rising tribal violence in Papua New Guinea
The conflict between clans in Papua New Guinea has deep historical roots but has intensified in recent years.
According to the World Bank, the island nation, is known for its remarkable cultural diversity with over 800 languages and 1,000 distinct ethnic groups.
The violence has grown increasingly severe over the years due to the influx of illegal modern firearms and the involvement of mercenary sharpshooters.
A stark example occurred in February 2024, when local police discovered 64 bloodied bodies in the highlands following a fierce gun battle between rival tribes.
The root of this turmoil partly lies in rapid population growth, which has put immense pressure on the country’s resources and heightened tribal rivalries.
Since 1980, Papua New Guinea’s population has more than doubled. While the government estimates the population at around 10 million, a 2022 United Nations study, using satellite data, suggested it could be as high as 17 million. The nation has not conducted an accurate census in decades.
This demographic strain, combined with the spread of weaponry, has created a volatile environment where tribal conflicts are increasingly prone to violence, according to the World Bank.
With input from agencies
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