KOTA KINABALU: Security forces believe that the seven Filipino kidnappers are still within Semporna waters as the hunt for them entered its third day.
They suspect that the gunmen might have blended with local villagers to elude arrest.
The gunmen failed in their attempt to kidnap a Kelantanese couple from a fish farm off Kampung Bangau Bangau in Semporna on Monday morning.
Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) operations director Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said that they believe the kidnap for ransom group was still in the area and they have not let down their intensive operations.
“We are hunting for them,” he said, but declined to give further comments.
At about 1am on Monday, seven armed masked men arrived at Ah Chai Fish Farm some 200m from the Kampung Bangau-Bangau near Semporna town in search for its owners.
The Kelantanese owners, however was not there as they had moved to the mainland following a series of kidnappings in the area.
The armed men then robbed a fish farm worker.