Gowa Narcotics Prison Protest Turns Violent as Crowd Armed with Bows and Knives Vandalises Facilities

A protest outside Gowa’s Class II Narcotics Prison in Sungguminasa, South Sulawesi, turned violent on Monday, 25 May 2026. The unrest went viral on social media after videos of the crowd’s actions spread widely on Instagram, including one posted by @sosmedmakassar showing heated scenes outside the prison. In the circulating videos, the crowd was seen scribbling on prison buildings and ramming motorcycles into security gates. The situation turned chaotic when officers tried to disperse the protesters.

‘The situation at the site became tense before escalating into violence between protesters and prison security personnel,’ according to the Instagram post, quoted on 26 May 2026.

Responding to the incident, the Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjen PAS) under the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections spoke out. Spokesperson Rika Aprianti stated the demonstration was carried out around 3:00 PM WITA by approximately 40 people representing the Alliance of Law Observers (AMPH).

According to Rika, the protest was conducted without permission or official notification to local police authorities.

‘Protests by AMPH were held without police permission or formal written notification from Gowa Regency Police or Bontomarannu Subdistrict Police,’ Rika said in her statement.

Rika stated the crowd engaged in various acts of vandalism during the demonstration, including ramming motorcycles into the P2U room gate, throwing objects at prison facilities, and burning tyres outside the prison grounds.

‘Demonstrators deliberately crashed their motorcycles into the P2U room entrance, threw objects at other prison facilities, causing damage to several assets and infrastructure, and attempted to burn tyres,’ she said.

Additionally, the prison authorities claimed the protesters carried weapons such as badik (traditional knives) and bows. This caused local residents to feel fearful and anxious.

‘They also carried weapons such as badik and bows. The actions caused fear and anxiety among the local community around the prison,’ she said.

Following the incident, the prison chief immediately coordinated with Bontomarannu Police Station and Koramil 1409-03 to request additional security assistance.