Observer Calls Bogor – South Jakarta Kidnapping Case, There Are Similarities To The Way Terrorists Are Recruiting

Photo Illustration: issafrica.org

JAKARTA - Abi Rizal Afif has been named a suspect in the kidnapping case of 12 minors. The disclosure of the kidnapping case, which was masterminded by the 28-year-old man, began with a report from the victim's family who claimed to have lost a child named Kevin (12) in South Jakarta, and the kidnapping case in Bogor.

Abi Rizal Afif is the same person who reported the kidnapping case in Bogor. Even the Head of the Bogor Police, AKBP Iman Imanuddin, said that Abi Rizal Afif had kidnapped 12 children from various regions. Starting from Bogor, Tangerang, to Jakarta with the same mode, namely claiming to be a policeman.

Abi Rizal Afif Confesses Ex-Terrorist Prisoners

Arrested at one of the mosques in the Senayan area of Jakarta, Abi underwent an examination at the Bogor Police. Iman Imanuddin had said that when questioned Abi Rizal Afif admitted that he had served three times in prison in connection with the terrorism case at the Gunungsindur Prison, Bogor Regency. In fact, Abi also admitted that he had attended a seven-month terrorism training in Poso.

Knowing this confession, the head of Gunung Sindur Prison, Mujiarto, made a clarification. Through an official statement, Mujiarto said that the suspect on behalf of Abi Rizal Afif never existed and had never served a sentence at the Class II A Special Prison of Gunung Sindur.

"We have coordinated with the Bogor Police (Head of Criminal Investigation Unit) to explain that in the name mentioned above, he has never been a wbp (convict) or a former wbp at the Gunung Sindur Special Prison," said Mujiarto in a written statement.

After an official statement from the West Java Ministry of Law and Human Rights appeared, the Bogor Police Chief corrected the statement that said Abi Rizal Afif was a former terrorist convict.

"Bogor Police Satreskrim has coordinated with Gunung Sindur Prison to obtain information that the suspect's identity is not registered at Gunung Sindur Prison," said Head of Bogor Police Criminal Investigation Unit AKP Siswo Tarigan to reporters, Friday, May 13.

So, Siswo said, if the information obtained by investigators from the results of the examination to Abi Rizal Afif regarding former convicts of the Gunung Sindur Prison is not true.

Statement of the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT)

The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has confirmed that Abi Rizal Afif is not a former terrorism convict.

"Not a former (former) convict. The person concerned is just admitting it, maybe looking for popularity," said BNPT RI Director of Prevention Brigadier General Ahmad, when confirmed, Friday, May 13.

This statement was made by Nurwakhid after his party coordinated with the Gunung Sindur Prison. He also said that for the past 4 months there was no such thing as Abi Rizal Afif as a terrorist detainee.

Exactly the Same as Terrorist Patterns Doing Recruitment

Terrorist Observer, Robby Sugara assesses that Abi Rizal's steps in kidnapping underage children are exactly the same as the pattern of recruiting terrorist groups, which often look for targets from among children.

According to Robby, the children were chosen because they believed it was easier to find adults. However, for him, this is a temporary assumption, if the perpetrator is really involved in a terrorist network.

"If it's related to terrorist networks, that's actually the pattern involving children, against terrorist networks and that's actually very strategic. Consider, for example, that he recruits at an adult age," Robby said when contacted by VOI, Friday, May 13.

"This method has been carried out by terrorist groups. In fact, he has used women as terrorists," he continued.

Robby also considers that the child victims who have been recruited have no suspicion of committing acts of terrorism.

"That may be, there is potential in that direction. Because small children are not considered to be in the suspicious category," he said.