Security forces hunting down rest of Abu Sayyaf members

Posted to the Borneo Post (Jun 29, 2021): Security forces hunting down rest of Abu Sayyaf members

Security forces in Sabah are hard on the heels of remaining Abu Sayyaf members who may be still in the state, said State Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali.

After killing five Abu Sayyaf members and arresting eight suspected militants belonging to the group in Beaufort last month, Hazani said the police and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) are now looking for remnants of the group who are believed to be hiding in Sabah.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Hazani said that it cannot be denied that aggressive action by security forces in the Philippines caused members of the militant group to flee and try to enter Sabah.

“But as a result of our action last month they now are forced to take refuge on islands in between Sabah and the Philippines. They are caught in between because they cannot go to Sabah or go back to the Philippines.

“We are working closely with ESSCom and other security agencies to prevent them from entering Sabah and making the state their safe haven. Our preventive measures are ongoing and we will take deterrent action (against these individuals),” said Hazani.

He said this when asked to comment on the latest addition of four more suspects in the ESSCom wanted list for their involvement in cross-border crimes in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

To the question if the suspects were in Sabah, Hazani said that they are not.

ESSCom released its updated list of wanted individuals on Monday with the inclusion of Ellam Sajirin @ Nasirin, Ismuran Jirah, Tista Hussein and Ahadin Hussein.

The four people were involved in the kidnapping of three Indonesians from Tambisan on September 23, 2019.

ESSCom commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman said during an interview with RTM that the threat from the kidnap for ransom and Abu Sayyaf Group from a neighbouring country still exists.

“However, several attempts of kidnap for ransom were successfully botched by the joint operation of the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Police and the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency along the east coast of Sabah,” he said, adding that ESSCom intelligence had also detected several attempts by the Abu Sayyaf Group to enter Sabah.

“For example, the arrest of eight Abu Sayyaf Group members and the killing of five of the group members in Beaufort during the early and mid of May, 2021,” he said.

The existing list of wanted individuals to assist in investigation on crime cases at the ESSZone between June 2021 and December 2021 are Al Munjir Yadah, Salip Mura, Ben Tatoh Quirino, Marajan @Manajn Asiri, Sangbas Parisko, Hamsan Pakkan @ Black Cobra, Sabri Madrasul @ Salip Jul, Basaron Arok, Mujimar Sawadjaan @ Rasad, Jul @ Jun Hasan, Jul Aksan Abdulrajan @ Halimaw, Tampi @ Bunju, Halipa, Haibin Mubin @ Apo Kuhambo, Hadji Wahad @ Talip and Barah Uddong @ Alvin.

https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/06/29/security-forces-hunting-down-rest-of-abu-sayyaf-members/