Papua New Guinea is reeling after the separate killings of two women in acts of extreme violence last week. Photo: Supplied
Warning: This story discusses graphic details of violence against women.
Papua New Guinea is reeling from the separate killings of two women in acts of extreme violence last week, prompting renewed calls for urgent action to address the country's epidemic of gender-based violence.
The first victim, a 29-year-old mother of two Lina Numbalihi, died last week after being tortured by her husband, who is a serving member of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).
Her final moments were recorded in a video later uploaded to her own Facebook account, showing her bloodied and struggling to remain conscious.
Police confirmed the alleged perpetrator, whose identity has not been publicly released, is currently on the run.
"This is among the most brutal cases I have encountered in my career," National Capital District (NCD) assistant police commissioner Ben Turi said.
He who described the attack as "premeditated and merciless".
Just days later, another horrific incident unfolded in Port Moresby in the early hours of Saturday morning, when a group of up to 30 men stormed a housing estate in the city, tied up security guards, and abducted a woman from the property.
She was later found dead after being raped and murdered, police said.
Authorities have since begun dismantling a nearby settlement as part of their investigation, though no arrests have been made yet.
Papua New Guinea is reeling after the separate killings of two women in acts of extreme violence last week. Photo: Supplied
'Cowards must face the full force of the law' - Marape
Prime Minister James Marape has condemned the violence and has called for a crackdown on "criminal havens".
Marape has backed the removal of illegal settlements sheltering criminals.
He expressed outrage over the attack, framing it as an assault on Papua New Guinea's societal values.
"No woman, no child, and no citizen should endure such horrifying violence," he said.
"This is not just an attack on one individual; it is an attack on our collective humanity."
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Marape said he had directed law enforcement to exhaust all efforts in apprehending the perpetrators, urging public cooperation.
"These cowards must face the full force of the law. If you know something, speak up."
Marape also threw his weight behind the National Capital District Commission's (NCDC) evictions of crime-ridden informal settlements, labelling them "breeding grounds for terror."
The Prime Minister linked the tragedy to broader law-and-order reforms, citing increased police resourcing and justice system upgrades.
"We are boosting manpower, capabilities, and security to stamp out such crimes decisively," he said.
However, he emphasised communal responsibility, urging leaders and citizens to "reclaim our communities from the grip of crime. Those who shield criminals are complicit."
Papua New Guinea's ratio for police per citizen is 1:1600, which is well below UN requirements.
