[Rappler] Following the death of Indonesia's most wanted terrorist, a expert on terrorism warned that members of his network may join the Abu Sayyaf. On Tuesday, Indonesian police said one of the two men they killed in a gunfight was Santoso, alias Abu Wardah, who has been called the "symbolic heart of the jihadi movement."While the news was welcome, terrorism expert Al Chaidar warned this could mean Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT or East Indonesia Mujahideen) militants may choose to go to the Philippines. He said they could opt to join the Abu Sayyaf now that Indonesian police are familiar with their whereabouts in the jungles of Poso.
He said, "Like the MIT, Abu Sayyaf is also based in one place. Both share the same nature. Thus the remaining MIT followers may go to Abu Sayyaf, if they manage to get out of Poso."
The MIT came to the attention of authorities when they killed two police officers in 2011. It engaged in more deadly attacks against security forces in the following years and, as Santoso's reputation grew among jihadis, militants flocked to the training camps.
MIT has pledged allegiance to Daesh, as has the Abu Sayyaf.