Swift Coordination at Nirbaya Prison, Nusakambangan Leads to Recapture of Escaped Inmate by Residents
An inmate at Lapas Nirbaya Nusakambangan, identified by the initials SN, attempted to escape but was swiftly recaptured by residents. SN failed to flee further because Lapas Nirbaya immediately coordinated with local TNI-Polri (military and police) forces, allowing information about the incident to reach residents.
“Lapas Nirbaya has successfully recaptured one inmate who managed to escape on Monday, 9 March 2026. Lapas Nirbaya officers immediately coordinated with relevant law enforcement authorities so that information about this incident spread to residents,” explained Rika Aprianti, Deputy Director of Cooperation at the Directorate General of Correctional Services, Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenimipas), in a statement to detikcom on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
Rika stated that the synergy and cooperation built between the Correctional technical implementation units (UPT) at Nusakambangan with local law enforcement and the community resulted in genuine public care. “And residents, with awareness and concern for shared security, secured the inmate,” added Rika.
Rika noted that Minister of Law and Human Rights Agus Andrianto appreciated the synergy established between the Correctional UPT on Nusakambangan Island with law enforcement and residents of Kutawaru Sub-district, Central Cilacap, Cilacap, Central Java. Minister Agus, Rika continued, expressed gratitude to residents and TNI-Polri officers.
“We also conveyed the Minister’s thanks and appreciation for the residents’ and TNI-Polri officers’ commitment,” stated Rika.
Rika noted that Nusakambangan Island comprises 12 technical implementation units (UPTs). These 12 UPTs fall into four security categories: super-maximum, maximum, medium, and minimum.
Inmate SN was placed at Lapas Minimum Security Nirbaya. Three factors determined that inmate SN would serve the remainder of his sentence at the minimum security facility: assessment results, having completed two-thirds of his sentence, and being in the assimilation stage with 1 year, 3 months and 13 days remaining.
“Because the focus of rehabilitation at Lapas Nirbaya is providing education and training, with the hope that inmates who will soon be released can return to society better and self-sufficient. They are indeed being prepared for reintegration into society,” Rika explained.
Following this incident, Rika confirmed that inmate SN was transferred to Lapas Batu Nusakambangan, which is a super-maximum security facility. “The individual in question has now been placed at Lapas Super Maximum Security Batu Nusakambangan for further investigation and action,” Rika stated firmly.
Previously, videos circulated on social media showing residents collectively capturing the escaped inmate from Nusakambangan Island. Bergi Riyadi, Head of Security at Lapas Nirbaya, stated that SN escaped by jumping over the fence. During morning roll call, one inmate was found to be missing. A search was conducted and coordination established with police.
“Alhamdulillah (praise be to God) within less than three hours, at 20:30 hours, the inmate was already secured by residents and local village security personnel. This is really just an attempted escape, not yet a full escape. An escape is when someone is not found within 24 hours,” said Bergi when contacted by detikJateng on Tuesday (10 March).