LAHAD DATU: “We come in peace”, claimed the group of armed men who intruded into Lahad Datu, to one of the villagers of Kampung Tanduo.
According to the villager Ben Hamid, 48, the group consisting about 50 men and five women aged between 17 and 70, entered the village, about 2am on Tuesday.
“My sister told me that a group of Abu Sayyaff had entered our village. Then we decided to leave the village and left about 8.30am and went to Kampung Tanjung Labian. About 36 other villagers in the village also left their houses in stages.
“As we were going out they said they were good and not malicious and we do not have to run. The group did not stop us from leaving the village,” said Ben when interviewed yesterday.
According to Ben, he was the first person to bump into the group and was surprised as the group members were wearing army uniforms and carrying weapons. But then, Ben said, the group told him that they were good and only wanted to solve an agreement.
Ben, who was also involved in the negotiation, said the negotiation ran smoothly and peacefully. He said the group did not intrude into their houses but camped in the plantation area.