The incident occurred around 1:40 p.m. local time when the kiosk owner, identified as Joni Hendra, was serving a customer, the task force’s operation head, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, said.
Hendra, who sustained serious gunshot wounds, was rushed to Bilorai Public Health Center, but was declared dead on arrival, he informed.
His shooter has been identified as Yonial Kobogah, he added.
amadhani said that Kobogah is suspected to be a member of the Apen Kobogau-led Papuan separatist group, which is active in Intan Jaya.
“The manhunt is still underway for the suspect who fled to the village’s hilly area after gunning down the victim. We continue to hunt down and crack down on those disrupting the law and public order,” he added.
Over the past few years, armed Papuan groups have often employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, Puncak, and Maybrat to incite fear among the people.
The targets of such acts of terror have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and also civilian aircraft.
On December 2, 2018, for instance, a group of armed Papuan separatists brutally killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya. The workers were engaged in the Trans Papua project in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi sub-district, Nduga district.
Early on the morning of September 2, 2021, several members of an armed Papuan group operating in Maybrat district ambushed sleeping soldiers at the Kisor military post. The post is located at Kisor village, South Aifat sub-district.
On March 2, 2022, several members of an armed Papuan group operating in Beoga sub-district, Puncak district, killed eight Palaparing Timur Telematika (PTT) workers who were repairing a base transceiver station (BTS) tower belonging to state-owned telecommunications operator Telkomsel.
On February 7, 2023, New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by an armed group led by Egianus Kogoya.
Translator: Ali NI, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
