Don’t downplay Abu Sayyaf threats, Esscom told

An aerial view of the waters patrolled by Esscom, off Lahad Datu in Sabah. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A counter-terrorism expert has urged the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to deepen its investigation into the possibility that Abu Sayyaf cells are planning a new wave of kidnappings off the east coast of Sabah.

Responding to reports that Esscom was apparently downplaying an alert issued by the Indonesian consulate in Kota Kinabalu, Ahmad el-Muhammady of International Islamic University Malaysia said it was well known that Abu Sayyaf cells in the area would resort to kidnapping and extortion whenever they were in need of funds.

“We should increase our security and be on guard, especially along the Sabah coastline,” he said. “Protecting our borders can be very difficult there.”

The consulate’s warning is believed to be directed at Indonesians working as fishermen and seamen in Sabah waters. A statement from the consular-general’s office said the cells were operating in waters near the Sandakan district and from several islands in the region.

Esscom commander Hazani Ghazali yesterday issued a statement saying intelligence from the Philippines showed no immediate threat.

“We checked with our Philippines counterparts and they have no reports of any kidnap-for-ransom activity,” he said, but he added that his men were on the alert.

Ahmad said Abu Sayyaf cells had always been in operation in the area although there had been periods of inactivity.

He recalled the 2017 siege of Marawi in Mindanao, which provoked a major offensive from the Philippine military and left thousands permanently displaced.

“Right before the siege, there was an upsurge of kidnappings along the Sabah coastline,” he said.

He was referring to the abduction of people of various nationalities in the two years before the siege.

One of the kidnappings occurred in September 2015. Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipino Marites Flor were abducted on Samai island near Davao.

It was reported that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of more than US$8.1 million, but Hall and Ridstel were eventually beheaded on separate occasions in May 2016 and the executions were recorded on video.

Ahmad said Abu Sayyaf cells in the area operated both as criminal gangs and ideological groups.

He said their criminal activities, which would include the smuggling of drugs, weapons and people, helped fund their ideological struggle and their struggle made them eligible for funding from bigger militant organisations. - FMT