The assault, carried out by members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), occurred around 1:30 PM local time on Saturday in Moyeba Village.
Military spokesperson Lt. Col. J. Daniel P. Manalu said the attack targeted troops from Infantry Battalion Task Force 410/Alugoro during a community outreach patrol.
“Private First Class Amin Nurohman was killed. His weapon was also taken by the armed group,” Manalu said in Manokwari.
He identified the attackers as members of the TPNPB’s Sorong Raya regional command, led by Demi Moss.
“This incident adds to a series of violent acts by separatist groups targeting security personnel and civilians in West Papua,” he said.
The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have stepped up security in the area and are coordinating with local authorities to stabilize the situation.
“This is another example of repeated violence carried out by armed groups against the military, police, and the public,” Manalu added.
Nurohman’s body is being transported from Teluk Bintuni to his hometown in Kebumen, Central Java.
Manalu said the TNI is committed to pursuing those responsible. “Kodam XVIII/Kasuari is determined to arrest the perpetrators of this attack,” he said.
The killing is the latest in a protracted conflict between Indonesian forces and separatist groups in Papua.
Papuan separatist rebels have intensified attacks across Indonesia’s easternmost provinces in recent years, targeting civilians, workers, and security forces in a campaign of violence aimed at spreading fear and undermining state authority.
Armed groups linked to the Free Papua Movement (OPM) have frequently used hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian troops and staged assaults on civilians in such districts as Intan Jaya, Nduga, Yahukimo, and Puncak.
Targets have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, food vendors, and civilian aircraft crews.
On December 2, 2018, rebels killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya who were building the Trans Papua highway in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak, Yigi Sub-district, Nduga District.
On March 2, 2022, eight technicians from Palaparing Timur Telematika (PTT) were shot dead in Beoga Sub-district, Puncak District, while repairing a Telkomsel telecom tower.
On February 7, 2023, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by an armed group led by Egianus Kogoya. He had just landed a Susi Air flight in Nduga District when rebels captured him and set his aircraft on fire.
On October 16, 2023, separatist fighters attacked gold miners in Yahukimo District, Highland Papua Province, killing seven.
On November 25, 2023, four Indonesian soldiers died in a gunfight with rebels in Paro Sub-district, Nduga District.
On January 19, 2024, security forces clashed with an armed group in Intan Jaya District, Central Papua. A Brimob paramilitary police officer, Alfando Steve Karamoy, was injured by gunfire.
On April 10, 2024, Second Lieutenant Oktovianus Sogalrey, commander of the 1703-04 Aradide Sub-district Military Command, was shot and killed in Paniai District, Central Papua.
In April 2025, 16 illegal gold miners were shot dead by an armed group in Yahukimo District, Highland Papua.
On October 6, 2025, TPNPB commander Mayu Waliya was killed in a clash with Joint Task Force Habema in Lanny Jaya District.
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Translator: FS Weking, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
