{"id":810347,"date":"2022-09-23T08:27:16","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T08:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?p=79498"},"modified":"2022-09-23T08:27:16","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T08:27:16","slug":"5-suspects-arrested-as-probe-continues-into-killing-of-png-ports-chief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/09\/23\/5-suspects-arrested-as-probe-continues-into-killing-of-png-ports-chief\/","title":{"rendered":"5 suspects arrested as probe continues into killing of PNG Ports chief"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby<\/em><\/p>\n Papua New Guinea police have arrested five men in Goroka over their alleged involvement in the killing of PNG Ports managing director Fego Kiniafa.<\/p>\n Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent Michael Welly said the men were in police custody and were now being questioned over the slaying of Kiniafa on the morning of September 17 — last Saturday — near Nagamiufa village outside Goroka town.<\/p>\n Kiniafa and his driver were reportedly slashed with machetes after the CEO shot a Nagamiufa villager.<\/p>\n Welly said investigations were continuing into the killing which sparked a tribal fight.<\/p>\n In the early hours of last Saturday between 1am and 4am, it was alleged that Kiniafa, who had turned 43 on September 16 — PNG Independence Day — was with a few men near Nagamiufa village when a confrontation occurred.<\/p>\n Kiniafa, from Korofeigu village in Lower Bena, is alleged to have discharged a weapon.<\/p>\n The bullet hit another man.<\/p>\n Several tribesmen incited<\/strong> Details about what happened next has not been mentioned by police. However, it is believed Kiniafa was rushed to Goroka General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.<\/p>\n Two days later on Monday, a 4am dawn raid was conducted at Nagamiufa village by men allegedly from Korofeigu village, Lower Bena.<\/p>\n The raid on Nagamiufa caused about 400 plus women, girls and the elderly to seek refuge within the gates of the Bihute Correctional Services prison.<\/p>\n Goroka Airport also shut its gates, causing several 100 passengers made up of tourists and locals to be stranded inside the terminal.<\/p>\n Throughout Goroka town, businesses closed their doors, the hospital tightened its security, and schools were shut for the day as police tried to calm the situation.<\/p>\n Assistant Commissioner of Police (Northern Command) Peter Guinness has confirmed with the PNG Post-Courier<\/em> that two mobile squads from Mt Hagen, Western Highlands and a mobile squad from Lae, Morobe province, had been deployed in Goroka, Eastern Highlands province.<\/p>\n Since Monday the situation has returned to some sort of normalcy with police continuing to keep watch.<\/p>\n Investigations were ongoing.<\/p>\n\n
\nThe shooting incited several tribesmen of the injured man to attack Kiniafa, slashing him several times before leaving him.<\/p>\n