However, all the inmates, believed to be Filipinos, only escaped from their cells but did not manage to leave the depot in the 6.30am incident.

Sabah immigration deputy director (operations) Masri Adul said initial investigations found that the unrest started from the block housing women inmates.

He said a group of inmates there reportedly claimed they were “stressed” and demanded to be sent home immediately.

“The provocation was heard by inmates in the men’s block located adjacent to theirs until a small riot broke out,” he said, when contacted.

He said three male inmates then managed to break open the padlock to their cell.

Masri said the immigration personnel immediately alerted police as well as the Sabah immigration headquarters for help.

He said 70 policemen and 40 immigration enforcement personnel then rushed to the depot.

“The riot was eventually brought under control through direct negotiations by myself and Kota Kinabalu police chief Mohd Zaidi Abdullah.

“We explained to the inmates about the actual situation and why the deportation process had to be postponed.

“We told them the delay was due to the request by the Philippines embassy as a result of several factors, including the risk of a Covid-19 outbreak,” Masri said.

He said the negotiations lasted for about an hour before the detainees finally agreed to return to their cells.

He added that police would deploy 30 men at the depot for several days to monitor the situation there.