After Aris Sanda’s Death, TNI-Polri to Boost Patrols on Wamena-Nduga Route

WAMENA, KOMPAS.com - The TNI and Polri will increase security patrols on the Wamena-Nduga Trans Road in Papua Highlands following the death of Aris Sanda, who was killed while delivering logistics to the local community.

Aris Sanda was a travel driver who was abducted and shot by an armed criminal group (KKB) on Tuesday (9/15/2026).

The Commander of the III Regional Joint Defense Command (Pangkogabwilhan III), Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto, stated that the patrols are being intensified to create a sense of security, especially for travel drivers traveling the Wamena-Nduga route.

"The logistics distribution and transportation route between Wamena and Nduga continues to operate because the TNI-Polri are currently conducting patrols and accompanying Aris Sanda’s colleagues, the travel drivers on the Wamena-Nduga route, so they can continue the late Aris Sanda’s mission as a logistics courier for communities in the remote areas of Papua," he said on Friday (9/18/2026).

Aris Sanda Shot on Wamena-Nduga Route

Lieutenant General Lucky explained that the tragedy occurred along the Wamena-Nduga Trans Road, which is very remote from any TNI-Polri security post.

While traveling this route, the vehicle driven by Aris Sanda carrying various food commodities and passengers was stopped by a group from the TPNPB-OPM Kodap III Ndugama faction, led by Agianus Kogoya.

All the passengers were forced to return to Wamena on foot. Meanwhile, Aris Sanda was detained and taken to Kilometer 32 on the Danau Habema Road in Papua Highlands.

Under threat from a long-barreled firearm, Aris Sanda was forced to make a statement supporting the TPNPB-OPM and Papua’s independence.

However, moments later, one of the group members who held a long-barreled firearm shot Aris Sanda, resulting in his death.

"Aris Sanda’s body was then burned along with the vehicle he was driving," he added.

Hundreds Accompany Aris Sanda’s Remains

Lieutenant General Lucky continued, after the incident, hundreds of mourners and Wamena residents accompanied Aris Sanda’s body from the family home to Wamena Airport.

The coffin was then loaded onto a Trigana Air Cargo plane PK-YSW bound for Toraja, South Sulawesi.

"Aris Sanda’s wife, Sinta Bilolo, who still appeared shocked by the heartbreaking event involving her husband, was comforted and consoled by members of the Army Wives Association (Persit) before boarding the plane to Toraja, South Sulawesi," he said.

The TNI also undertook humanitarian missions, from evacuating Aris Sanda’s body to escorting Sinta Bilolo by helicopter.

The couple was then sent from the family home to Tanah Toraja, the birthplace and final resting place of Aris Sanda.

TNI-Polri Pursue Perpetrators

Lieutenant General Lucky considers Aris Sanda’s death not only a sorrow for thousands of residents in three districts of Nduga, Papua but also a grief shared by the wider community.

He assured that the TNI-Polri together with all other law enforcement agencies continue to actively pursue and capture all perpetrators.

"Lieutenant General Lucky confirmed that the TNI-Polri, along with all other law enforcement officials in Indonesia’s eastern frontier, are continuously moving to apprehend all perpetrators, dead or alive, so they can be held accountable for the humanitarian crimes they have committed," he concluded.