Abu Sayyaf ditches hostages
Abu Sayyaf ditches hostages - Nation | The Star Online
KOTA KINABALU: The sea gypsy hostages abducted from Lahad Datu on Sabah’s east coast have been found in a village in the Philipines.
Abu Sayyaf gunmen apparently abandoned their sea gypsy hostages after realising they had no monetary value for a ransom payoff.
Nine of the 10 victims grabbed by gunmen in waters off Lahad Datu last Tuesday were found wandering around a village in Jolo island at about 8pm on Friday.
The Philippine military, who spotted them, moved in to question them only to realise that they were the victims of the Tuesday kidnapping in Sabah.
However, the whereabouts of the 10th victim, who has yet to be identified, remain unknown as the Philippine authorities could not establish whether he was still a captive or got lost when abandoned.
In confirming the rescue, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah said they had received information from their counterparts that the nine were picked up from the roadside at a village in the Talipoa area of Jolo island.
“The victims told the Philippine officials that they were released by their captors since they had no money or anything to give as ransom,” Comm Omar said.
He said they were trying to obtain more details about the 10th victim.
The kidnapping took place at 2.20am on Tuesday when the sea gypsies were on their way to Semporna in two boats.
They were waylaid and gunmen grabbed 10 of the 16 sea gypsies and fled.
It is now believed that the kidnapping was carried out by Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Injam Yadah instead of the initial notion that gunmen linked to another sub-commander named Salip Mura were responsible.
Bernama quoted the wife of one of the victims, Hamidah Lallah, 22, who said she was informed by her brother-in-law of the development yesterday.
“My brother-in-law received a call about their release at 11am. Maybe they are with the military (of the Philippines) there,” she said.
However, Hamidah said she was unable to ascertain if her husband, Abdul Nasir Nuli (Inai), was one of the nine victims who were freed.
Read more at
Abu Sayyaf ditches hostages - Nation | The Star Online