3 fishermen feared kidnapped by masked gunmen off Lahad Datu

KOTA KINABALU — Three fishermen are feared to have been kidnapped from a Malaysian fishing boat in the waters off Lahad Datu close to the sea border with southern Philippines.

It is believed that seven kidnap-for-ransom masked gunmen in two pump boats boarded two fishing vessels at noon on Monday (Sept 23).

The gunmen abducted three of the fishing vessel’s crew, and they are believed to be headed towards the chain of Tawi Tawi islands in southern Philippines that straddles Sabah waters.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah and Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Datuk Huzaini Ghazali could not be reached for comment on the alleged incident.