DWU students recovering after mob attack in Madang

Three male students from Divine Word University are recovering from serious injuries following a violent mob attack at Finsch Road last Friday night.

While rumors of fatalities circulated over the weekend, Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Robert Baim dismissed those reports, confirming that swift police intervention saved the students’ lives.

"The incident occurred at Finsch Road, but my men acted quickly to rescue the students from further harm," Supt. Baim said. "There were no casualties. All victims were transported by police to the hospital for immediate treatment."

Dr. Michael Kuri, Emergency Physician and Acting Manager of Medical Services at Madang Provincial Hospital, confirmed that three students were admitted to the emergency ward on Friday night. Two were treated and discharged that evening, while a third remains under supervision for a serious stab wound to his side that affected his lungs.

The students, reportedly from Jiwaka Province, were part of a group of five who had been out on Friday evening. According to reports, the group attempted to return to campus around 9:00 PM and hailed a taxi near the "Masin Gun" area.

The conflict allegedly began at the university’s back gate when the students informed the driver they lacked the cash for the fare, offering instead to pay via a mobile bank transfer. When the driver insisted on cash, the students requested to be driven to an ATM or a late-night shop to withdraw the funds.

While one student disembarked at the gate, the remaining four stayed with the vehicle. However, instead of heading towards the town center, the driver reportedly diverted the vehicle to his residence at Finsch Road.

Upon arrival, a mob allegedly set upon the students. One student managed to escape by scaling a fence and fled to the Jomba Police Station to raise the alarm. The remaining three were reportedly beaten and sustained knife wounds to their heads, hands, and backs before police arrived to intervene.

Initial reports suggest the taxi driver, believed to be from Southern Highlands Province, claimed to his relatives that the students had attempted to hijack his vehicle, asserting that he drove to his residential area seeking safety.

Police investigations into the incident and the conflicting accounts of the attempted hold-up are ongoing.