The police have confirmed that five Malaysian sailors have been abducted from a tugboat off Lahad Datu by the Abu Sayyaf guerilla, according to a report by The New Straits Times.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the abduction, but refused to comment further on the case.
“We have received confirmation that the five Malaysian sailors were taken by Abu Sayyaf.
“That is all that I can confirm as of now,” Khalid was quoted by the daily as saying during a press conference at the Police Training Centre in Jalan Semarak on Tuesday.
The five sailors who were reportedly taken hostage were Abdul Rahim Summas, 62, Tayudin Anjut, 45, Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 32, Fandy Bakran, 26, and Mohd Jumadil Rahim, 23.
According to earlier reports, the tugboat — with a barge in tow — was reportedly on its way back to Semporna from Sandakan when it was intercepted in the waters of Dent Haven, off Lahad Datu, on Monday.
The authorities were alerted when a group of fishermen found the tugboat sailing in the waters with the engine still running and no crew members were found onboard.
