Reported Missing, Resident in IKN Found Dead After Being Attacked by Crocodile
A resident named Jikram, aged 65, who lives in the Nusantara Capital (IKN) delineation area on Jalan Datu Nondol, RT.03, Kelurahan Sepaku, Kecamatan Sepaku, Kabupaten Penajam Paser Utara (PPU), East Kalimantan, was found dead after being reported missing. The victim was discovered floating in the Sepaku River, Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan, on Sunday (5/4), believed to have been attacked by a crocodile.
The Head of the PPU BPBD Implementation Unit, Nurlaila, confirmed that a joint team found the victim’s body near his rubber plantation in RT 01, Kelurahan Sepaku.
“At around 08.45 WITA, the team received information from locals working in the gardens that there was a floating body in the Sepaku River matching the victim’s description. Visually, there were wounds on the neck and right wrist,” said Nurlaila on Sunday (5/4).
This tragic incident began on Saturday (4/4) around 05.30 WITA when the victim, who lives on Jalan Datu Nondol, Kelurahan Sepaku, Kecamatan Sepaku, Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan, left for his garden to tap rubber. According to family statements, Jikram usually returned home by 10.00 WITA.
When he did not return, the family and locals began searching the riverbanks and surrounding forests. However, their independent efforts yielded no results, leading to a report to the PPU BPBD at 14.27 WITA on Saturday afternoon.
“The team immediately conducted searches both on land and along the river using boats until Sunday early morning. At that time, the team only found items belonging to the victim, including a mobile phone, cigarettes, and hat, at the garden rest hut,” explained Nurlaila.
The victim’s body was finally found on the second day of searching, about 150 metres from the initial location of his disappearance. Based on field analysis, the victim is suspected to have been attacked by a predator while active near the water’s edge.
“The victim was killed by a crocodile attack while fetching water at the riverbank near his garden,” added Nurlaila.
After discovery, a joint team consisting of PPU BPBD, Basarnas, TNI-Polri, DKP Pos Sepaku, and locals immediately evacuated the body to the mourning house. With the body’s recovery, the search operation was officially closed.