KOTA KINABALU – Sabah police believe they have crushed a militant cell taking refuge in the state after killing five suspected Abu Sayyaf members in a shoot-out in Beaufort yesterday.
State police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said a sub-leader of the group, identified as Mabar Binda, is among the five killed, all of whom were Filipinos.
“It was a follow-up (operation) by police at a mangrove site behind a residential area in Beaufort. Another eight suspected Abu Sayyaf members were detained, along with 29 others, on May 10,” he told a press conference at the state police headquarters in Kapayan here today.
“The arrests involved Mabar’s older brother, Sansibar Besion.
“The five had evaded arrest by jumping into the mangrove, but they returned to the site afterwards.”
Hazani said a police team returned to the mangrove about 11.30am yesterday and knocked on a makeshift “house” there, identifying themselves as officers.
“One of the men opened (the door) and started firing at the police officers. His accomplices also started shooting and attacking with machetes.”
Police returned fire, killing the five men inside, he said.
He said the five were involved in bombings and shootings with Philippine marine security personnel at the Bud Bawis Complex in Panamao, Sulu, in 2011, 2018, 2019 and last November.
Sabah is being treated by such groups as a safe haven, he said, adding that their entry into the state may have been aided by sympathisers.
Two Colt 45 pistols, two bullet magazines, 45 bullets and two machetes were confiscated after the shoot-out.
More may be hiding
Hazani said Philippine security forces identified three of the suspects shot as Abhirham Samsula, also known as Samsed, Jurakhdam Binda, also known as Jura or Abu Jar, and Alsimar Sukarno, who originated from Jolo in southern Philippines.
The identity of the fourth suspect remains unknown, but he said the man may have been a runner providing supplies to the group.
He said the cell had set up settlements last November, and is likely linked to the Islamic State extremist group.
More members could be hiding in Sabah, he said.
“We suspect there are still more hiding out in Sabah. We will mount a crackdown on terrorists hiding in the state,” he said, cautioning of retaliation by the group following yesterday’s operation.
Hazani noted that one of those arrested earlier this month included a “Haji” who served as a recruiter for the group.
He said he could not, at present, release details on how members of militant organisations wound up in Sabah, only mentioning that they have entered via rat trails using pump boats and with the assistance of sympathisers.
They then set up settlements in far-flung areas in the west coast and interior divisions.
Hazani advised village chiefs and developers to take security measures on people entering their residential areas and those hired as construction workers.
Militants easily blend in with locals, given that they are well versed in local ethnic languages, he said. – The Vibes, May 18, 2021
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