KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police shot dead five Abu Sayyaf Group members at a squatter settlement located at a mangrove swamp in Beaufort yesterday morning.
State Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said when the team raided the illegal settlement and introduced themselves, a man from one of the houses came out and opened fire.
"At the same time, a few suspects who were having pistols and machetes came from various directions to attack the raid team.
"In an effort to defend themselves, the team shot back at the suspects. After that, it was found that five people were killed," he said in a statement, adding that a medical officer from the district hospital had confirmed their deaths.
Among those who were killed in the special integrated operation include Mabar Binda, Jurakhdam Binda @ Jura @ Abu Jura, Alsimar Sukarno, Abhirham Samsula @ Samsed and another unidentified member.
Those killed were aged between 20 and 40.
The police also seized two semi-auto colt.45 pistols, two magazines, 20 live bullets, two bullet shells and three machetes.
Hazani said following the operation jointly held between police and Eastern Sabah Security Command, they have managed to cripple the hideout for the group that is linked to militants.
However, the authorities believed there are still other members of the group hiding in the country particularly in Sabah.
"Sabah police will continue to improve our intelligence to find the others."