Kidnapping foiled after Malaysian authorities killed Abu Sayyaf leader, two other bandits

Police officers from Malaysia’s Tiger Platoon thwarted another kidnapping after it killed an Abu Sayyaf leader and two other bandits, who were believed to be planning to stage abduction, off the waters of Lahad Datu in Sabah, Malaysia.

Killed was Abu Sayyaf squad leader Abraham Hamid. Two of his men, who were not identified, were believed killed when they went missing after their speedboat sank during the firefight. Two more bandits, identified as Samsung Aljan and Awal Hajal, were arrested by Malaysian authorities after the encounter that took place on Thursday, December 8.

As mentioned in the GMA News Online article dated December 10, 2016, Armed Forces of The Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Major Felimon Tan, Jr. said it was Hamid who led the Abu Sayyaf members who abducted Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Maritess Flor from Ocean View Resort in Camudmud, Samal City on Sept. 21, 2015.


The Canadian nationals were beheaded by the bandits after their relatives and the Canadian government failed to pay the ransom demanded by the Abu Sayyaf. Sekkingstad and Maritess Flor were both freed by their captors.

“The death of Hamid is a big blow to the Abu Sayyaf, as it neutralized one of the notorious bandits’ leader and will degrade their capability for spotting and kidnapping victims in the future,” Major Tan said.

Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte discussed possible joint military and police operations with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to crush the Abu Sayyaf’s kidnapping of Malaysian sailors along the countries’ sea border. The kidnappings, he said, have paralyzed the trade and commerce in the region.

source: kickerdaily