Security forces shot dead three of seven abductors, believed to be from southern Philippines, in a shootout in Pulau Gaya waters off Semporna last night.
Sabah Police Commissioner Abdul Rashid Harun said the security forces arrested two of the other four abductors and freed one of two captives, both skippers of fishing vessels.
The remaining two abductors and the other captive went missing following the clash with General Operations Force (GOF) personnel at about 9pm, he said at a press conference in Semporna.
“During the shootout, the two captives - abducted in the waters of Bekapit in Lahad Datu and Pulau Gaya - were on board the abductors’ vessel.
“One of them was found on board after the shootout but the other and two of the abductors were missing,” he said.
Relating what happened, Abdul Rashid said the seven abductors who came in a boat abducted the skipper of a fishing vessel, in his 30s, in the Bekapit waters in Lahad Datu.
“The abductors destroyed the telecommunications equipment on board the fishing vessel and proceeded towards Semporna waters.
“They then came across another fishing vessel but were only able to take the outboard engine as all the fishermen on board jumped into the sea to escape abduction,” he said.
He said the abductors came across another boat and kidnapped the skipper, also in his 30s.
Abdul Rashid said the abductors then came across another fishing vessel, unaware that on board was a Tiger Platoon unit of the GOF that was conducting the ‘Op Coral’ operation in Pulau Gaya waters.
'Shootout ensued for one minute'
The head of the security forces unit spotted the abductors and the heavy firearms they were carrying, with one of them having ammunition strapped around his body, he said.
"He shouted 'police' and the abductors opened fire. The security forces personnel returned fire in defence and a shootout ensued for one minute and the abductors' boat began to sink slowly," he said.
The security forces personnel went on board the sinking boat and found three abductors dead and arrested two others, he said, adding that they also found one of the captives safe.
"Two other abductors and a captive are missing. We are looking for them," he said.
Abdul Rashid said one of the security forces personnel, a lance corporal, was injured in the right leg during the shootout and had been sent to hospital.
Bernama found out later that the policeman from Sarawak is in stable condition.
Abdul Rashid advised people on the nearby islands who happened to come across any suspicious men with someone who may look like a captive to report to the nearest police station.
He also said that the 'Op Coral' exercise was a special operation undertaken in September to fight crime in the nation's waters and provide security on the islands.
"The success against the abductors can be attributed to the cooperation with EssCom (Eastern Sabah Security Command) where the Malaysian Armed Forces, police and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency are represented," he said.
At a hospital in Semporna, the injured Sarawak lance corporal said he did not realise he had been shot until after the shootout.
"I did not feel any pain but after the shootout my leg went numb and I had to bandage the wound," he said.
He said he was grateful that all his colleagues were safe and that the abduction for ransom was foiled.
- Bernama
Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/365690#ixzz4SLRNmfhW
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