Merauke, Jubi – A riot broke out at Merauke Class IIB Correctional Facility in South Papua on Friday morning, 9 October 2026. Several inmates reportedly attacked officers and forced their way into the prison office area, where a fire broke out. Some inmates were also suspected of escaping during the unrest.
The riot is believed to have started after officers inspected inmates’ mobile phones as part of a policy prohibiting mobile phones inside the prison.
Amiranto, head of security at the Merauke Class IIB Correctional Facility, said the inspections began on Thursday night, 8 October 2026. Inmates were asked to show the mobile phones they possessed.
He said officers did not immediately confiscate the phones but instead asked inmates to hand them over to their families to take home.
“I asked who owned a mobile phone and told them to hold it in their hands. Everyone showed theirs. I did not confiscate your phones. I asked you to have your families come and take them home, because the minister has ordered that mobile phones are not allowed inside,” Amiranto said.
He said officers inspected all inmate accommodation blocks. However, the situation changed on Friday morning when a group of inmates gathered in an area of the prison at around 8 am local time.
About an hour later, several inmates allegedly began attacking officers and attempting to force their way into the prison office area.
“Suddenly, they gathered in the morning and attacked us from the main entrance. We tried to hold them back but could not. Eventually, they broke through the door on the left-hand side,” he said.
After the door was breached, a fire broke out in the prison office area. Amiranto said he did not know who had started the fire.
“That was when the burning started. I don’t know whether someone inside set the fire or what happened. Suddenly, the flames were already burning,” he said.
In addition to the fire and attacks on officers, several inmates were suspected of escaping during the riot. However, prison authorities had not confirmed how many inmates had fled.
Amiranto said officers would need to recount the inmates and cross-check their registration records.
“We don’t know yet how many escaped. We will conduct another registration to count and check the number of inmates,” he said.
Merauke Deputy Police Chief Commissioner Jerry Koagouw said police received a report from prison authorities at around 10 am local time.
Following the report, police and military personnel were deployed to secure the facility and help manage the situation. Dozens of police, Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and military personnel were at the scene.
Firefighters also made repeated deployments to extinguish the blaze that engulfed the prison office building. By around noon, the flames had reportedly been brought under control.
The number of inmates believed to have escaped, the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage remain unconfirmed as authorities have yet to issue an official statement. (*)
