Esscom has prevented kidnappings since January 2020, says retiring commander
The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has prevented kidnappings along the east coast of Sabah for the last two years.
Outgoing commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman attributed this success to the sharing of intelligence between Esscom and security forces from Indonesia and the Philippines.
“The last kidnap-for-ransom incident in this area was on Jan 15, 2020.
“Three days later, following the sharing of intelligence with the Joint Task Force Sulu and Western Mindanao Command, three of the kidnappers were shot dead at Sulare Island off Sulu.”
He said this in conjunction with his retirement yesterday.
Fuad added that the cooperation had also led to the killing of the Mamay Aburi leader in Zamboanga Sibugay six months later.
His said other successes during his two-year tenure as commander included neutralising nine targets in operations with neighbouring nations to curb kidnapping and smuggling.
He said two Abu Sayyaf clans — Hatib Munap Binda in Beaufort and Pulau Timbang in Sandakan as well as the Jemaah group under Ustaz Mamy Aburi— were crippled.
“I am thankful to Esscom staff, security enforcement agencies, such as the police, army and maritime enforcement, and other departments, such as Customs and Immigration, for fulfilling the commitment and mission of Esscom
and the country.
“This commitment has to be continued in fighting cross-border crimes and Covid-19.”
Selangor-born Fuad started his career in 1982 as a trainee inspector in Kuala Lumpur before being transferred to Sabah in 1985 where he held various positions.
He was an assistant commissioner when he joined Esscom in 2014 before being promoted to commander with the rank of deputy commissioner on Sept 4, 2020.