Jayapura, Jubi – Dozens of residents of Yobe urban village in Abepura district, Jayapura city, Papua, gathered at the local government office on Monday (21/9/2026) to protest the alleged diversion of rice assistance intended for low-income families.
Residents blocked access to the Yobe urban village office and put up a banner at the entrance reading: “We ask the mayor to meet with Yobe residents. Investigate the perpetrators thoroughly and bring them to justice.”
The residents had gathered since the morning, waiting for Jayapura Mayor Abisai Rollo to explain the alleged diversion of the rice assistance.
However, they were later told the mayor would meet with them on Tuesday (22/9/2026). The residents then dispersed.
Yobe community leader Yan Mambai said information about the alleged diversion of the subsidised rice began circulating on Saturday (19/9/2026).
He said that at around 3am Papua time that day, local government officials were seen removing rice from the Yobe office.
“Some young people caught them red-handed taking the rice out. We accompanied them to make a police report, and we have already filed one,” Mambai said.
He said that after the report was lodged, relatives of those allegedly involved in the diversion began intimidating residents and pressuring them to withdraw the report.
However, Mambai said the alleged conduct had affected many residents and could not simply be ignored, and that the legal process should continue.
“Today, residents heard and learned about what happened, so they came to this office and asked the mayor to meet them and explain why their rights were not properly fulfilled and to take responsibility for the actions of his subordinates,” he said.
Mambai said the case was now being handled by the Abepura Police. Eight people and a Carry Box vehicle are currently being held at the Abepura police station.
“We hope the village office will improve its services to the community in the future,” Mambai said.
One resident, Ferderika, said she and other residents had not received the subsidised rice despite having lived in Yobe their entire lives.
“Why don’t we elderly people receive it? Young people, whether they have jobs or not, receive it. Why don’t we?” she said.
Ferderika said residents had heard that officials in neighbouring Waymork urban village had adopted a different approach to distributing the rice assistance.
Residents whose names were already on the recipient list received the rice first, while those whose names had not yet been included were given assistance later.
“But that’s not how it is in Yobe. Only those whose names are on the list receive it. Those whose names aren’t there get nothing. Why would you divert rice that was distributed in the community’s name? They should have adopted the same approach as Waymork,” she said. (*)
