Fishermen kidnapped
Two Indonesians abducted at gunpoint from vessel off Semporna
Gunmen abduct two Indonesians at gunpoint from their fishing vessel off Semporna. Police are investigating whether the marauders are linked to the Jolo-based Abu Sayyaf group or criminal groups from southern Philippines.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah waters, which have been calm for the past two years, are turbulent again following the abduction of two Indonesian fishermen at gunpoint from their fishing vessel off Semporna.
Police are investigating whether the armed marauders are linked to the Jolo-based Abu Sayyaf group or to criminal groups from southern Philippines (Tawi-Tawi) known to extort fishing vessel owners for the release of their crew members.
The two masked men, believed to be armed with M16 rifles, stormed the fishing vessel manned by four fishermen shortly after it docked at the Pulau Gaya jetty near Semporna between midnight and 1am yesterday.
The other two fishermen managed to escape after hiding in one of compartments on board the boat.
“We are not sure who the kidnappers are and whether they have fled Malaysian waters. No ransom calls have been made so far (as of 11am yesterday),” Sabah acting police chief Datuk Omar Mammah (pic) told a press conference.
The kidnap victims were identified as Samsul Sagunim, 40, and Usman Yunus, 35.
Based on the account of the two fishermen who managed to flee, Omar said they heard the sound of a pumpboat approaching their vessel as it was docking at the jetty.
“The two men went to hide themselves. And from a hole in the compartment, they saw two armed men in dark clothing boarding their boat.
“When they got out of their hiding place, they discovered that their crew mates and the boat’s radio were missing,” he said.
The armed men were said to have spoken in the Suluk dialect.
Omar said the two fishermen later lodged a police report in Semporna.
All the four Indonesians had earlier gone fishing with 11 other fishermen near Pulau Gaya in the past three days, he said.
The 11 fishermen then headed to shore to deliver their catch.
In December 2016, police shot dead three kidnappers and arrested two others during a shoot-out off Pulau Gaya in Semporna. They also rescued a kidnap victim.
At the time, two other kidnappers and another kidnap victim were reportedly still missing.
Just last month, there was a kidnap attempt off the waters of Lahad Datu’s Tambisan area where a tugboat crew were almost abducted by a gang of about 10 people.
Fortunately, the quick response from security forces on patrol thwarted the kidnap attempt.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the state would take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of Indonesian fishermen.
A 6pm to 6am sea curfew was imposed for four years three nautical miles off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran following a spate of kidnappings.
The current curfew period is supposed to end on Sept 13.
The two men went to hide themselves. And from a hole in the compartment, they saw two armed men in dark clothing boarding their boat. Datuk Omar Mammah