Jayapura- The Armed Criminal Group (KKB) carried out another act of violence by burning down the Okbab State Elementary School (SDN) building in Borban Village, Okbap District, Bintang Mountains Regency on Friday, July 12 2024.
Papua Police Chief, Inspector General Mathius D Fakhiri, emphasized his party’s commitment to handling this incident seriously. He has ordered units at the location to pursue the perpetrator. Fakhiri emphasized that the act of burning educational facilities is completely unacceptable and is detrimental to children who want to learn.
Head of Peace Ops Cartenz-2024, Brigadier General Faizal Rahmadani, explained that the burning of the building was allegedly carried out by five KKB members, namely Memokon, Jender Siktaop alias Usoki, Aquino Kaladana, Yuni Mimin, and Enos Kakyarmabin.
This group is part of the KKB Kodap XXXV Bintang Timur, which was previously involved in the shooting of resident Senus Lepitalen on June 6 2024 in Borme District, Bintang Mountains Regency. During this action, KKB was found to have a long-barreled firearm.
Brigadier General Faizal condemned this inhumane act and stated that the joint TNI-Polri apparatus and the Cartenz-2024 Peace Ops Task Force would strictly enforce the law against the perpetrators. He also stated that he would increase patrols and surveillance in vulnerable areas to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
“We will tighten security in conflict-prone areas and try to provide a sense of security to the community. We will not allow heinous acts like this to destroy the enthusiasm for learning of Papuan children,” said Brigadier General Faizal.
Faizal added that the KKB’s action of burning schools added to the long list of violence committed by this group, which continues to disturb the community and disrupt security stability in Papua.
The government and security forces continue to strive to overcome this security disturbance and restore conditions in the affected areas so that people can return to their activities in peace. The public is expected to remain alert and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
