Kainantu town comes to a standstill on Tuesday

Business in Kainantu town is back to normal today after the town came to a standstill yesterday.

Known as the gateway to the Highlands region, the town was deserted as early as 4am on Tuesday when the Kemefa landowners from Agarabi LLG, who are the traditional owners of Kainantu town, entered the town and removed a fence surrounding a portion of land identified by the Lands Department as Section 52, Allotment 22, located in the heart of Kainantu.

The Kemefa villagers, who claim customary ownership of Kainantu town land, allege that the land was acquired through land grabbing.

Kainantu Police Station Commander Steven Yalamo said a meeting was held two weeks ago between the Kainantu District Administration and the concerned locals to address the issue of the fencing.

"The district administrator had issued a stop work order until the clarification of the portion of the land by the land and physical planning"

"But unfortunately, after two weeks, the trespasser erected the fence again, which upset the District Administration and the landowners, and this led to violence, Yalamo said.

The main Highlands highway from Kainantu to Kasampass was very slow with the movement of only trucking companies, food, and essential services.

NBC News was on the ground and confirmed that shops, banks, schools, and markets were closed.

Police in Yonki, Kainantu, and Goroka, including members of Goroka MS14, responded immediately, helping to restore the situation to normal.