Police confirmed seventeen suspects were arrested over the murder of four elderly men accused of sorcery in May 2025 in East Kikori, Gulf province.
The incident happened in Veraibari village, where the villagers suspected the four deceased men of practicing sorcery following the death of 15 people in the village.
Gulf Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Inspector Jefferey Lemb (pictured) confirmed that the suspects were arrested by the Kikori police and are in custody awaiting legal process to be formalized before they are transported to the Kerema police station.
“Police went into the Veraibari village and communicated with the community leaders to bring in the suspects,” Inspector Lemb said.
“All suspects including the community leaders were transported to the Kikori police station on six police dinghies. One Forensic officer and two Criminal Investigation Division (CID) personnel are already on ground processing the 17 suspects before they are brought to the Kerema police station. More suspects are expected to be arrested soon as well.
“I will be seeking assistance from the Police Headquarters to move all suspects and escort party by air to Kerema due to bad weather season and very rough violent waters between Kikori and kerema,” PPC Lembi said.
He added that the relatives and families of the 15 deceased including the community members brought the four elderly men and questioned them on Monday 25th May, 2025 over the deaths. This led to the alleged killing of the four elderly men by the community. The four were attacked with bush knives that resulted in their death.
PPC Lembi confirmed that the suspects’ ages ranged from 25 to 5, were from Veraibari village and believed to be the relatives and families of the 15 deceased whom they believed, have been died through sorcery.
He said the police throughout PNG are well aware of the escalating situation on sorcery related killings and they are doing their best to arrest the suspects with whatever resources they have.
