RSIPF Officers in Auki, Malaita Province are investigating an incident at a village in Central Kwara’ae which resulted in the burning of two residential houses and a kitchen and all the personal properties inside the houses and the looting of other property.
The burning incident at a settlement near Maoro Village happened on the afternoon of 1 August 2017 after 20 men from East Kwara’ae appeared at the settlement demanding compensation for the life of a woman who passed away last month believed to be killed by evil spirit according to their cultural beliefs. The deceased woman, from East Kwara’ae was a teacher posted at a school near Maoro Village.
After the person suspected of using sorcery to kill the woman was not able to meet their demand, it is alleged that the 20 men burnt down two residential houses and a kitchen built with sago palm leaves. It is further alleged that the group of mean looted live chickens and destroyed fruit trees at the settlement.
Auki Police, who arrived at the settlement after they were notified, were able to arrest the 20 men as they were traveling back on a vehicle to the provincial capital.
The men have been apprehended and are now assisting the police with their investigations.
Provincial Police Commander, Malaita Province, David Wate has called on members of the communities in and around Maoro Village to remain calm as the incident is now a police case.
“I want to remind our good people of Malaita not to take the law into their own hands. We have our traditional ways of dealing with such issues which can result in an amicable solution instead of taking the law into our hands and causing more problems to the affected families,” said PPC Wate.
