Three fishermen kidnapped
LAHAD DATU: The kidnap-for-ransom group is believed to have struck again with the kidnapping of three Indonesian fishermen from their boats off Tambisan waters here yesterday.
The fishermen, believed from Sandakan, were suspected to have been taken by seven gunmen about 11.58am.
It was learnt that the masked gunmen in two pump boats were said to have boarded two fishing vessels and took three crew members.
They are believed to be headed towards Tawi Tawi islands in southern Philippines that straddles Sabah waters.
Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander DCP Datuk Hazani Ghazali, when contacted by The Borneo Post last night, said he had yet to receive further details on the incident.
Hazani added that they were still investigating the incident and waiting for a full report.
The last kidnapping incident happened on June 18, this year, involving 10 Bajau Laut (Sea Gypsies) fishermen who were taken by by armed men linked to the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, in Lahad Datu waters.
The victims, aged from 17 to 60 years, were among 16 fishermen in two boats heading from Lahad Datu to Semporna when they were intercepted by the kidnappers off Felda Sahabat 9. The other six managed to escape.
They were believed to have been brought to Sitangkai Island in the southern Philippines, a 15-minute boat journey from Tambisan, Lahad Datu.
The southern Philippines is home to numerous armed groups, and Abu Sayyaf is notorious for kidnapping of foreigners.
The militants, who demand large ransoms and have beheaded several hostages, have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador had said that the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, believed to be based in Jolo, Sulu in the southern Philippines, still posed a threat to Sabah’s eastern seaboard.
There has been a spate of kidnappings in the waters between the southern Philippines and Sabah in recent years.
Several Southeast Asian nations began naval patrols in the area in 2017 in a bid to deter kidnappers.