By Vicky Baunke in Goroka EHP
Police Reserve Surgent Rex Inigandah, 67 from Purarasa Village in Okapa has been an advocate for peace among many tribal conflicts for 30years in Okapa since 1987.
After 30 years, Inigandah continues to advocate for peace to ensure law and order is uphold in the rural communities of Okapa district.
Serving since 1987 when there were no regular police with no proper road accessibility Inigandah among others continued to serve with commitment and loyalty to protect life and property.
Looking back, Inigandah said police duties in rural Okapa back then was done on foot without police vehicle and access to road.
Recounting on his experience he said he served through some of the deadliest tribal fights where he stood through in the midst of exchanging arrows and spears.
He shared his 2006 experience when he accompanied a murder suspect in a chopper that had mechanical fault to Goroka for the suspect to be detained.
He said 50 years of independence now and Okapa has two regular police serving and seven police reservist and a station accessible through road.
Inigandah who also lost one of his brothers as a result of tribal fighting said there are more than 61 reported murders in Okapa district alone, all related to false sorcery accusations at present with currently three ongoing tribal fights within Central Okapa.
Surgent Inigandah who plans to retire this year says many Okapa people have been displaced for many years due to fighting in relation to SARV.
However, he continues to do more awareness in the communities on the revised Glassman Act to educate the people in his capacity on the new sorcery laws.
He was also part of a recent peace agreement at Okapa station last month, standing proudly and expressed that he wants to see a peaceful PNG going into the next 50 years.
