AN elderly woman was rescued by the members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) on Tuesday 07th July 2026 following her tortured video of sorcery related accusations went viral on social media.
The assault and tortured video captured at Kulapi basketball court in Porgera was circulated widely on Facebook, prompting an immediate response from the security forces resulted in the rescue of the elderly woman.
Enga Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Chief Superintendent, Steven Harris confirmed that two elderly women were reportedly seized and tortured at Kulapi after being accused of practising sorcery. He said one woman managed to escape her captors before security forces reached the scene whilst the second victim was rescued by RPNGC and PNGDF personnel taken for her safety.
PPC Harris said the suspects fled the scene the moment security forces arrived, abandoning their victims. No arrests have been made at this stage. Police investigations are continuing, and the Porgera Police Station Commander will provide further updates as the situation develops.
“This was a brutal, cowardly attack on two elderly women, and RPNGC has zero tolerance for it. Our units and the PNGDF responded quickly and decisively and rescued one victim and is safe. I want the people of Enga to know that when a report like this comes in, my forces move, that is what happened at Kulapi.
“The men responsible ran the moment they saw security forces. They were brave enough to torture defenceless elderly women, but the moment RPNGC and PNGDF arrived, they ran like cowards.
“They knew exactly what my forces were there to do, we were not coming to mediate, we were not coming to negotiate, and we were not carrying kola for a belkol. My forces were giving effect to my intent, and these men knew it.
“Your images are clear and your identities are known. Hand yourselves in now, at any police station, and do it like a man, not by hiding and running because we will still find you.
“Let this be clear across Enga: RPNGC will not tolerate sorcery-accusation-related violence or gender-based violence, in any form, from anyone. Every person in this Province, rich or poor, young, old, man or woman, is entitled to and will receive the full protection of the law,” PPC Harris said.
PPC is appealing to anyone with information on the identities or whereabouts of the suspects, or the woman who escaped, to come forward to their nearest police station or contact Porgera Police Station directly. He said police investigations
remained active and further details, including any arrests, would be released as they become available.
PPC Harris reaffirmed his police personnel’s commitment, alongside the PNGDF, to protecting the vulnerable persons across Enga Province and to ending sorcery-accusation-related violence and gender-based violence in all their forms.