 He had fled with dozens of Maute fighters during the Battle of Marawi and has since been active in recruiting new members using money looted from a local bank and the abandoned homes of wealthy residents.On 24 January 2019, a fierce gunfight between security forces of the 103rd Infantry Battalion and terrorists of the Maute group left three soldiers injured and three terrorist injured in Barangay Sumalindao, Sultan Dumalondong, Lanao del Sur.Days early five militants surrendered to military near a military base in Lanao del Sur.