The men were working on a tug boat and were kidnapped April 1 off Borneo. The kidnappers had asked for 4 million euro ransom. Seven foreign nationals still in the hands of the jihadist group, which operates in the southern Philippines.
Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) - Four Malaysian sailors were released a few hours ago by Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist terrorist group operating in the southern Philippines. The men, from the State of Sarawak (Borneo) were kidnapped on April 1 last off the coast of Pulau Ligitan (in Sabah) as they were returning from a trip to the Philippines. The sailors, who were working on a tug, were conducted to the city of Sandakan.
According to reports from the island of Jolo, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold, the hostages' release came after several phases of negotiations, carried out jointly by Malaysia and the Philippines. The kidnappers had repeatedly demanded a ransom of 18 million ringgit (almost 4 million euro). At the moment it is not known whether this sum has been paid.
With such a dynamic, May 2 last 10 Indonesian sailors kidnapped by jihadists were released.
Abu Sayyaf is the smallest group in number but the most dangerous and bloodthirsty among Muslim movements fighting for independence in the southern Philippines, the only Asian nation with a large Christian Catholic majority. The terrorists' activities are concentrated in Basilan and Jolo. The jihadists are responsible for the beheading of the Canadian John Ridsdel, which took place on 26 April. According to some sources, the group could be the same group that released the former PIME missionary Rolando Del Torchio.
Currently, 7 foreign nationals are still in the hands of Abu Sayyaf: Four Indonesians, a Canadian, a Norwegian and a Dutchman.