PANIAI - The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Kodap XIII Kegepa Nipouda Paniai has declared full responsibility for the burning of dozens of houses and kiosks in Enarotali Town, Paniai Regency, Central Papua. The arson attack that struck the residential and market areas consumed dozens of house and kiosk structures and killed 11 people.
​The Management of the Central Headquarters of the National Command of the TPNPB stated that an official report was received from the Commander of TPNPB Kodap XIII Kegepa Nipouda Paniai, Brig. Gen. Matius Gobai, together with Operations Commander 03 Major Sergeant Semut Merah You.
​Based on the report, the covert operation was executed by special forces of Battalion 6 Obeigi Kago under the leadership of Operations Commander Sergeant Major Second Class Aibon E Utuma You on 7 September 2026 at 24.00 WIT.
​TPNPB special forces monitored the situation on the ground for 30 minutes from 23.30 WIT before launching the arson attack. The TPNPB emphasized that all victims executed inside the houses and kiosks were military intelligence agents of the Indonesian government, including the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), tasked with spying on TPNPB movements in Enarotali and frequently leaking information to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri).
​"TPNPB Kodap XIII Kegepa Nipouda Paniai, Kowip II Battalion 6 Obeigi Kago, we are ready to take full responsibility for this incident and this action was purely carried out by us," said Matius Gobai, Friday (11/9/2026).
​Matius Gobai warned Indonesian military security forces not to target civilians or make arbitrary arrests in the Paniai region. The TPNPB emphasized that if TNI and Polri forces wish to act, they must directly face TPNPB forces.
​In addition, the TPNPB issued a stern warning to all migrant residents and non-Papuan residents in the armed conflict area to leave the Papua region immediately.
​The TPNPB urged migrant residents and Papuan residents alike to maintain distance from Indonesian military forces to avoid becoming victims of subsequent covert operations that could potentially expand from Enarotali Town to the Madi area and its surroundings.
​A similar appeal was directed at residents working as State Civil Apparatus (ASN), members of the People's Representative Council (DPR), the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), motorcycle taxi drivers, meatball vendors, as well as kiosk sellers and street vendors to cease all activities supporting the Indonesian government.
​The Management of the Central Headquarters of the National Command of the TPNPB also urged Indonesian military intelligence agents operating in Papua to return immediately to their hometowns such as Jakarta, Sulawesi, Manado, and Kalimantan to prevent excessive civilian casualties. (One Papua)