Police have used a police helicopter to rescue a man who was among four other people who were seriously wounded after being accused of practicing sorcery in Wenaiyo village, Karimui Local Level Government, Simbu Province.
Simbu Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Mazuc Rubiang, who escorted the team to the site, thanked Police Commissioner David Manning for deploying police officers via the police helicopter to respond to the complaint in this extremely remote part of Simbu Province.
PPC further thanked the Seventh-day Adventist Church for their quick response in evacuating three of the wounded men to Kundiawa Hospital on Tuesday.
PPC Rubiang said the police helicopter, supported by Mobile Squad 13 members from Lae, was deployed today (Friday, July 17, 2026) to rescue the remaining wounded victim and transport him to Kundiawa, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
He said the helicopter relieved a lot of stress for his police officers, who otherwise would have had to walk for days to respond to the incident.
He also confirmed that nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and will be investigated and charged accordingly.
PPC Rubiang said that according to the police brief, it is alleged that at around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, the 12th of July,2026, fifteen men armed with offensive weapons surrounded the victims and seriously wounded them. The attack resulted in one death, while the other survivors were taken to the hospital.
The suspects alleged that the victims were sorcerers involved in the death of one of their elderly tribesmen a month earlier.
"I want to thank my police officers from Kundiawa and the others who responded and rescued the seriously wounded men."
"Those who have been arrested will be thoroughly investigated and charged accordingly. Sorcery-related violence (SARV) cases in Simbu have increased, and police are doing their best to raise awareness so that people respect one another, "PPC said.
Rubiang reminded the locals that when there is respect, there will never be violence.
