Abu Sayyaf Militant Group Hostage 5 Indonesian Citizen Again, One Guerrilla Killed Shot by Philippine Army

News24xx.com - The incident of hostage-taking of three Indonesian fishermen (WNI) has just ended with the release of the last hostage named Muhammad Farhan from the Abu Sayyaf group, Wednesday (15 January 2020). Now, five fishermen from Indonesia are again kidnapped by the rebel group in Lahad Datu Waters, Sabah, Malaysia.

Six Abu Sayyaf guerrillas are known to kidnap five Indonesian fishermen from their trawlers in the easternmost waters of Sabah off the coast of Lahad Datu, about 10 minutes from the Tawi-Tawi islands in the Philippines. The six armed men took five hostages from eight Indonesians aboard a fishing trawler in Sabah before heading to southern Philippine waters.

Security forces under the East Sabah Security Command were notified of the incident by other fishermen on Friday (17 January 2020) at around 01:00 p.m. local time. They immediately operated and gave word to the Philippines.

The abductees were Arsyad Dahlan's trawler captain (41), La Baa (32), Riswanto Hayano (27), Edi Lawalopo (53), and Syarizal Kastamiran (29). All Indonesians who work in fishing companies are based in Sandakan, Sabah.

In the incident, the six gunmen escaped on foot when they landed on Solre Island in Parang, in the stronghold of militant groups on Jolo Island, southern Philippines. According to regional intelligence sources, the Philippine military immediately formed a line around Jolo after receiving reports of the abduction of five Indonesian fishermen.

Next, there was a shootout on Saturday (18 January 2020) last night. Philippine security forces claim to have killed a gunman with Abu Sayyaf guerrillas suspected of being involved in the abduction.

"They carried out airstrike operations using MG helicopters on a group suspected of Abu Sayyaf on Solre Island which resulted in the death of one of the guerrillas," the source said as reported by The Star, Sunday (19 January 2020).

The source revealed a gray-blue speed boat and a cellphone were also confiscated during the operation.

NEWS24XX.COM/CTR