Chief of the Papua Provincial Police Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri has confirmed that an armed separatist group set fire to a number of houses in Ilaga, Puncak District.
Members of the armed group allegedly torched the houses after one of their friends was shot dead by security personnel who were trying to arrest him.
“It is true that after a member of the armed criminal group, identified as Ali Teu Kogoya, was shot dead on Sunday (April 3, 2022), the armed criminal group torched houses,” Fakhiri informed in Jayapura on Thursday night.
He said that based on the report he received, since Tuesday (April 5), the armed group has burned a total of 16 houses, forcing their occupants to flee to safer places, including the Puncak District Police Station in Ilaga.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported in the fire.
However, Fakhiri urged his men to remain vigilant and not be easily incited by the armed group’s actions.
“The armed criminal group keeps trying to incite us. When we are weak, they will attack us and rob us of firearms and ammunition,” he said.
Ali Kogoya, who was a member of the Koyawage armed group, carried an FN 46 AK type rifle, with the series number EA 1520077. The rifle contained two bullets.
He got the rifle from Undius Kogoya, who has currently joined the Kelenak Telenggen armed group in Ilaga.
Source: Antara News