Police Continue to Shoot for Papuan Medical Officer COVID-19

Police Continue to Shoot for Papuan Medical Officer COVID-19

The Nemangkawi Operation Task Force continued to hunt down armed groups who shot two members of the COVID-19 Task Force in Papua resulting in one death.

The Nemangkawi Operation Public Relations Task Force said the armed group shot two medical personnel who were joined by the COVID-19 Task Force, in Wandai District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua, Friday, May 22, 2020 around 16:30 CEST.

The two medics were Amalek Bagau, 30, and Eniko Somou, 39, "They were shot while trying to deliver drugs to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Intan Jaya Regency." That was the release of the Nemangkawi Operation Task Force, Friday night, May 22, 2020.

After passing through a steep road terrain, Nemangkawi Operations Task Force and Intan Jaya Regional Police succeeded in reaching the location of the two victims. However, the victim named Eniko Somou was declared dead due to a gunshot wound.

Nemangkawi Operations Task Force personnel together with Intan Jaya Regional Police evacuated victims to Nabire using a Smart Air plane from Sugapa Airport, Intan Jaya Regency.

The plane landed at Douw Aturure Nabire Airport on Saturday, May 23, 2020, at 10:20 Eastern Indonesian Time, then at 10:30 Eastern Indonesian Time, the wounded were immediately taken by ambulance to Nabire Regional Hospital for further examination.

Head of Papua Police Public Relations, Chief Commissioner AM. Kamal said from information received that one victim was declared dead, while another was still being treated in critical condition.

Please note, the location of the incident is very far with difficult terrain conditions which is one of the obstacles faced by members in the field to get to that location.

"We need about five hours to be able to arrive at the scene," Kamal said. Moreover, the government is struggling to face the COVID-19 pandemic.