On Saturday 29 January 2022, two pastors and a student, were traveling upstream in a boat when they were attacked by the pirates who were armed with homemade guns. According to police officers, all three travelers were killed and their bodies discarded into the Ramu River. They were later discovered by local villagers.
Police officers who went to retrieve the bodies, told village leaders to identify those involved and bring them in. On Sunday 13 February, 2022, seven of them were handed over to the police.
