By CYRIL GARE
WEWAK MP, Kevin Isifu has joined the rest of leaders in East and West Sepik provinces in condemning Monday’s vicious killing of a 30-year old man in his electorate.
Ernest Natalie, from Aitape in West Sepik died instantly after a gunman shot him at close range while he was among other passengers on a PMV truck travelling from Wewak to Aitape.
His PMV succumbed to an arm hold up at Banak, Dagua LLG along the Simogun highway.
A relative, Adam Wangu posted on facebook: “With great frustration and anger I condemn the cold blooded murder of my son in-law, Ernest Nataleo from Yakamul (Aitape) married to my daughter Rosemary from Yiminum village, Nuku district.
“How nau yupla ol brata long East Sepik wokim olsem lo mipla ol West Sepik? Nau tasol mipla ol West Sepik kam bung wantaim yupla long dai bilong Papa Somare na yupla tanim na wokim olsem lo mipela.
“Wanem taim bai yupla stop lo wokim olsem long mipela ol brata susa blong yupla long West Sepik?”
Mathew Wasel Sigimet, head of Dagua reserve police (now disbanded) said: “It appears that Ernest was specifically targeted. The gunman walked straight to him and shot him at close range while he was among other passengers on the PMV”.
The Wewak MP who is also Chairman of the Constitutional Law and Reform Commission (CLRC) said he was deeply saddened and heartbroken upon hearing of the news, adding that this was not the first time such terrible attacks targeting “our West Sepik brothers and sisters” have occurred along both the coastal and inland highways connecting East and West Sepik provinces.
He declared the perpetrator/s as “public enemy…your days are numbered. The full force of the law is coming after you”.
Mr Isifu has commissioned a manhunt with the help of a police Mobile Squad 06 since Monday.
East Sepik Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Albert Beli was contacted last night and was to give details on the killing but could not do so soon when this report was released.
An infuriated West Sepik Governor, Tony Wouwou has described the killing as “barbaric” and “diabolical act” against the West Sepik brothers.
He said such unprovoked killings against his innocent peace loving people will only jeopardize long term relations between the two provinces and threaten the collective efforts for a “greater Sepik” agenda.
Both Isifu and Wouwou extended their deepest heartfelt condolences to the wife, Rosemary and young son of late Ernest.
Need for more police stations and police manpower to conduct regular and intense highway patrols to curtail dangerous and ferocious hold ups by criminals remains a contending issue for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) nationwide, but often so, would require the inputs from the respective politicians of the affected areas who can no longer underestimate the extent of this pathology infecting the lives of our citizens.