Manila, Aug 28 (IANS): A Philippine militant jihadi group attacked a prison in the city of Marawi and freed eight of its members incarcerated there, authorities said on Sunday.

At least 50 heavily-armed guerrilla fighters from the Maute group -- which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) terror group -- attacked the prison complex on Saturday night to rescue its members who had been detained there following their arrests last week, EFE news reported.

They disarmed the prison guards and later made off with their weapons, allowing 20 other inmates, not connected to the group, to flee the premises as well, according to daily newspaper The Philippine Star.

The Maute group is headed by brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute, who beheaded one soldier and two local workers earlier this year.

In March, the Philippine Army confronted the rebel group in Lanao del Sur in clashes lasting 10 days, which left 42 rebels and three soldiers dead.

The terror group, which began operations in early 2016 in Lanao del Sur province, is one of the latest to have emerged in Mindanao.