Boy, 6, marked for death by his CANNIBAL tribe returns to jungle to reunite with men who wanted to eat him

A BOY who was earmarked to be eaten by his own tribe has now returned to the jungle nearly 15 years later to meet those who wanted to devour him.

Wawa Chombonggai, from the Korowai tribe in Papua New Guinea, was just six when he faced the prospect of meeting a grizzly end.

The tribe believe when a person dies it is due to a “bad spirit”.

When both Wawa’s parents died suddenly in 2006 he was thought to be a “bad spirit” and the tribe planned his death.

But a guide for Channel Seven Kornelius Sembiring heard about the boy and rescued him, taking him into his own home in Sumatra 13 years ago.

Wawa, now 20, who still lives with his foster family, wanted to return to the tribe in an attempt to educate his people on why they should be “working together, not killing each other.”

The sports science student and football fan travelled into the jungle with a Channel Seven reporter for an astonishing reunion.

Footage show the devout Christian shake hands with a man before his aunts give him a big, warm hug.

He is reunite with his brothers and sister Wilhelmus, Devi and Lepina as well as numerous aunts and uncles.

Wawa became overwhelmed with the emotional reunion and cried as Kornelius spoke for him.

Speaking to Sunday Night, Kornelius said: “Before he feels like he was just alone. But now… [it feels like] he had a big family.”

He added Wawa was happy with the outcome of the reunion.

Wawa said: “If I had stayed in the village then I was at risk.”

Despite the warm reception Wawa received he also raised the issue of what happened to his uncle with his family.

His uncle was killed after he had an affair with another man’s wife.

Wawa said: “We should talk and discuss in a nice way to get a solution.

“Why do you kill like that? Don’t we have a solution like talking to the other people or talking to the leader of society?”

He added he wanted the tribe to learn a new way to behave as the current one made them “weak” and open to being taken over by another group.

His uncles said they wanted Wawa to become the leader of the tribe.

Wawa’s brother Devi also faces a similar threat from the tribe and he wanted to bring his younger brother home with him but was unable to do so yet.

The members of the tribe told Wawa would be fine as long as he obeyed the terms of his exile.

Although Wawa has now returned home he promised to return to the village.