Gunmen kill seven with more than a dozen missing after Papua New Guinea bus shooting

In an ongoing investigation, police are grappling with the uncertainty surrounding 17 missing passengers after a tragic ambush on a public bus in Papua New Guinea’s Enga province. Rebecca Kuku reports from Port Moresby on the situation following the incident that left at least seven people dead.

The harrowing events unfolded on Tuesday afternoon in the Lagaip district, as armed assailants with high-powered weapons set an ambush for the bus carrying more than 20 passengers. Assistant Police Commissioner Joseph Tondop described how the gunmen fired indiscriminately into the vehicle, creating chaos and panic.

“We lost seven male passengers, including the bus driver,” Tondop revealed. “The driver managed to turn the vehicle around and drove towards Wabag hospital, about 50 minutes away, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.”

Currently, one individual is in critical condition at Wabag hospital, while authorities are concerned for at least 17 others who remain unaccounted for. Tondop indicated that the missing passengers could still be alive, possibly injured or hiding in nearby bushes, or taking refuge with neighboring clans.

Early Wednesday morning, police initiated a search operation commencing at the ambush site. Tondop characterized the attack as a “payback killing,” linked to an existing grievance involving one of the bus passengers, and highlighted the incident as part of an ongoing cycle of violence among tribal groups in the region.

“This isn’t the first instance of such violence,” Tondop noted. “For centuries, clans have been in conflict, but the stakes have risen significantly with the introduction of more advanced weaponry. Guns, machetes, and hand grenades have unfortunately become commonplace in these tribal altercations.”

The violence in Enga province has escalated in recent months, resulting in numerous fatalities, widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure, and businesses. Tondop referenced a massacre earlier this year in which at least 50 people lost their lives amid ongoing disputes stemming from long-term land conflicts—issues that are deeply rooted in local customs and beliefs.