01/07/2025
Fugwa community in Koroba Lake Kopiago District signs peace treaty
After a decade of brutal tribal fights that displaced over 10,000 people, claimed several lives, and destroyed properties worth thousands of kina, the Fugwa Community in Koroba Lake Kopiago District, Hela Province, has finally laid down their arms. Warring tribesmen, women, and children rubbed themselves with clay and walked to the Wesleyan Church grandstand with their hands on their heads, a sign of sorrow and surrender to God and their leaders.
"To have hope is to believe that what’s seemingly impossible can be done if only one believes that all things are possible through God and by God," MP Bando said.
Last Friday, the Wakira, Tanaka, Awi, Kanimu, and Pari clans gathered to sign a peace agreement, in the presence of their MP William Bando, Hela Police Commander Supt Michael Welly and other invited guests. He said compensation for lives lost and surrender of fi****ms will be done later, the peace agreement was important.
MP Bando, who is also the Minister for Coffeehad visited this Fugwa community five times, pleading for peace, but to no avail. He said last Friday, he had to sacrifice his national duties to see an end to this senseless violence.
PPC Welly thanked leaders in the district for ensuring the peace agreement took place and said the day will go down in the history of Koroba Lake Kopiago.