Man flees Abu Sayyaf captors
Indonesian ran to a village and rescued by the locals
KOTA KINABALU: An Indonesian fisherman who was kidnapped from waters off Semporna three months ago managed to escape from his Abu Sayyaf captors. Philippines security sources said Usman Yunos, 30, who was taken from a fishing vessel with his friend, Samsul Sagunim, 40, on Sept 11, saw an opportunity to flee at about 7.30am yesterday.
The source said that when the opportunity opened up for him, Usman ran towards a village in Bual, Luuk in Sulu, where he was rescued by the locals.
He then turned up at the Joint Task Force Sulu where his details were believed to have been recorded, said the source.
The source said Usman and Samsul, also an Indonesian, were held captive at Bud Bawis, Panamao in Sulu. Samsul is still being held captive.
A ransom of RM4mil had been demanded for the release of the two fishermen.
In the Sept 11 kidnapping, Samsul and Usman were taken at gunpoint by two armed masked men shortly after docking their vessel at the Pulau Gaya jetty near Semporna town between midnight and 1am.
Two of their workmates who were hiding inside a small compart- ment on the vessel managed to stay unnoticed and lodged a report after the kidnappers and their friends had left the area.
Kidnap-for-ransom activity is reoccurring after a 21-month hiatus as sources believe Abu Sayyaf sub commanders are regrouping.
There was a brief halt in cross-border kidnappings in Sabah after Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte waged an all-out war against Abu Sayyaf in their Jolo island stronghold in 2016.
Many of the sub-commanders were injured and had gone into hiding and keeping a low profile during the period.