On the night of 2 February 2026, personnel of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly shot dead Mr Pit Nayagau during a raid conducted on the outskirts of Dogatalipa Road, along the Dogabu River, located in the Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province. Pit Nayagau was shot dead at the scene, while Nato Japugau sustained gunfire but managed to escape. The body of Pit Nayagau was discovered on 3 February 2026.
On the night of 2 February 2026, Pit Nayagau and his friend were walking from Jalai Village towards Sugapa town via Dogatalipa Road. They did not know that Indonesian military personnel from Sugapa town had already been deployed in the area as part of a military raid. Upon encountering the two indigenous men, military personnel reportedly opened fire without warning. Mr Pit Nayagau was fatally shot. His friend managed to flee from the scene without being hit by bullets.
Following the shooting, Indonesian military personnel dumped the body in bushes along the Dogabu Riverbank. Villagers passing through the area discovered the body on 3 February 2026 and informed residents of Jalai Village, who subsequently evacuated the victim to the village, where the body was cremated. Local informants further reported that, that TNI personnel brought logistics to Jalai Village, allegedly damaging a Catholic church and a civilian house there. The TNI activities in the immediate vicinity of indigenous villages have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among the local population.
Human rights analysis
Based on the preliminary information received, the killing of Mr Pit Nayagau constitutes a prima facie case of extrajudicial execution, as prohibited under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The use of lethal force against unarmed civilians travelling on a public road, without warning and outside any active hostilities, violates the right to life and the strict standards governing the use of force by state security forces aligned in the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. The alleged disposal of the victim's body further indicates an attempt to conceal unlawful conduct and obstruct accountability.
The reported shooting of Mr Nayagau's friend corroborates allegations that military personnel fired indiscriminately at civilians. In addition, the prior destruction of civilian property and a place of worship may amount to collective punishment and the deliberate creation of terror among the civilian population.
Indonesian authorities are obliged to conduct a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into these allegations in line with international standards. Given the persistent and re-occurring pattern of human rights violations in Intan Jaya Regency, an independent international investigation is urgently required. All suspected perpetrators, including commanding officers under the principle of command responsibility, must undergo investigations and trial if incriminating evidence has been uncovered.
Detailed case data
Location: 726J+5QG, Bilogai, Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua 98768, Indonesia (-3.7395623, 137.0319626) Dogatalipa Road, along the Dogabu River, between Sugapa Town and Jalai Village
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Intan Jaya, Sugapa
Total number of victims: 1
1. Pit Nayagau, male adult Indigenous Peoples execution, right to life, unlawful killing
Period of incident: 02/02/2026-02/02/2026
Perpetrator:, Indonesian Military (TNI)
Issues: indigenous peoples, security force violence