Abu Sayyaf Terror part 2
We continue with our chronology of the deeds of the Abu Sayyaf Organisation from part one.
KFR=Kidnap for Ransom
In 2015, only one KFR incident was recorded in Sabah on May 14, 2015. This incident marked a shift in the kidnappers’ strategy, as previous incidents had primarily taken place at sea, whereas this attack occurred on land at a seafood restaurant in Sandakan.
The two victims were forcibly taken onto a speedboat and transported to the southern Philippines. One of the victims, Thien Nyek Fun, was released on November 8, 2015, while the other victim, Bernard Ghen Ted Fen, was executed (beheaded)—believed to be a consequence of the ransom demand not being met.
Even though there was only one KFR case in 2015, the authorities were unable to curb the surge in KFR activities in 2016. That year witnessed the highest number of recorded kidnappings in Sabah’s waters. A total of 10 cases involving 23 victims were reported, with incidents occurring as follows: one case in April; two cases in July, one case in September; three cases in November and two cases in December.
The first kidnapping in 2016 occurred on April 1, involving four Malaysian victims who were later released following a ransom payment of RM12 million. A month later, the kidnappers grew bolder, carrying out two attacks on July 9 and July 18, 2016. The increasing frequency of these attacks led Malaysian authorities to believe that the ransom payments made by the victims’ families were incentivising kidnappers to continue their operations. In September 2016, two more KFR incidents were recorded.
The first incident on September 11, 2016, occurred at Pom-Pom Island in Semporna and involved three Filipino nationals who were taken hostage. The second kidnapping incident on September 27, 2016, took place at Gaya Island, Semporna, where five Malaysians were abducted.
In the final months of 2016, three KFR incidents were recorded in November, followed by two cases in December. All the victims were Indonesian fishermen.
On November 5, 2016, two KFR incidents occurred almost simultaneously in the Kretam Sea and Kinabatangan District. Another attack happened in the waters of Merabung in Lahad Datu on November 18, 2016.
Subsequently, on December 8, 2016, two simultaneous KFR attacks were reported—one at Bekapit waters in Lahad Datu and the other at Gaya Island in Semporna.
In 2017, no KFR incidents were reported in Sabah.
Two cases were reported in 2018. The first case took place at Gaya Island in Semporna on September 2, 2018. The kidnappers adopted the same modus operandi as in previous incidents, targeting fishermen who were operating in territorial waters at night. In that incident, two Indonesian fishermen were kidnapped for ransom. The second incident took place on December 5, 2018, in Pegasus waters, Kinabatangan district, where three individuals—one Malaysian and two Indonesians—were abducted.
On June 18, 2019, two fishing boats with 16 crew members were hijacked by armed gunmen while travelling in the waters of Tambisan, Lahad Datu, en route to Semporna. The gunmen abducted four of the six crewmen from the first fishing boat and six of the ten crew members from the second boat. In total, 10 Bajau Laut, also known as “palau” or sea gypsies, were kidnapped.
The Bajau Laut are a subgroup of the Sama-Bajau people, who traditionally hail from the islands of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. Many of them are stateless and live at sea off Lahad Datu and Semporna. The abducted individuals were believed to have been taken to Sitangkai Island, Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines, a mere 15-minute speedboat ride from the waters off Lahad Datu.
However, on June 22, 2019, they were spotted walking along a road in Talipao town, Sulu province. According to the Joint Task Force Sulu, all victims were released by their captors because they had no money or valuables to offer as ransom.
On September 23, 2019, three Indonesian fishermen were kidnapped by the ASG at Tambisan Island in Lahad Datu. The group later released a video demanding a ransom of 8 billion rupiah(~$500.00). All abducted crew members from the two incidents in 2019 were eventually rescued with assistance from the AFP.
Two victims were rescued in Barangay Pugad Manaul, Panamo Sulu, on December 23, 2019. Another victim, Muhammad Farhan, was rescued by the AFP on January 15, 2020, weeks after he managed to escape. Following his rescue, he was taken to a military hospital in Jolo town for a medical examination.
On January 16, 2020, six gunmen dressed in black suits wearing masks used a grey speedboat with twin engines to abduct five Indonesian crew members from a Malaysian-registered fishing trawler (marked SSK 00543). The incident took place between Tambisan and Kuala Meruap in Lahad Datu, near the Philippines’ sea border. The vessel was later found abandoned with no crew on board on January 17, near Pulau Tambisan, Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia (The Maritime Executive, 2020).
In this incident, the suspected ASG kidnappers captured the ship’s captain and four crew members, while three other fishermen were released and left aboard their vessel, which they returned to Sabah the next day.
Following the abduction, the Philippine and Malaysian authorities intensified their patrol efforts, launched pursuit operations and conducted military operations in the vicinity of Kalupag Island, Brgy Kalupag, Languyan, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines on March 21, 2021. During an engagement between AFP forces and ASG members, one of the abducted crew members managed to escape and was subsequently rescued by the AFP (“Three Indonesian hostages”, 2021).
Meanwhile, on the night of March 18, 2021, four individuals were rescued from a jungkong-type watercraft that had capsized near the waters off Pasigan Laut Island, South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. Upon their rescue, they were brought to the Tandubas Municipal Police Station (MPS) for further investigation. Three of the rescued individuals were identified as crew members from the fishing trawler SSK 00543, who had been abducted by the ASG. The fourth individual was identified as a member of the ASG.
From AI
On September 15, 2022, three Philippine soldiers were killed by the Abu Sayyaf forces.
Military operations in Parang and Sulu resulted in the deaths of multiple ASG forces in February-March 2023. In September 2023, the AFP declared Sulu Province free from Abu Sayyaf Forces.
June 28, 2024: Twin suicide bombings occurred at a checkpoint in Indanan, Sulu—killing 3 soldiers, 3 civilians, and the attackers; ISIS‑linked Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility, thesun.co.uk+15World Politics Review+15Commission on Human Rights+15.
April 26, 2024: Police killed Nawapi Abdulsaid (Khatan) in Basilan, a previously prolific Abu Sayyaf militant
Why Sabah?
There are several reasons why Sabah is susceptible to KFR. These include the ongoing conflict in the South Philippines and the idea that KFR is a lucrative business.
The Moro group, located in the south, has been in conflict with the north since the Spanish invasion 300 years ago. There are also religious differences, the south being Muslim, the north adhering to the Catholic faith. The southerners also have a long history of piracy. The people of the north came south and absconded with the land and took the best jobs, marginalising the southern groups.
The struggle for an autonomous region in the South gave way to criminal cells, where the idea of a southern Muslim state turned into collecting funds for personal gain.
Money
Poverty in the south Philippines and the comparative wealth from tourism and other economic resources of Sabah provide for a perfect storm for KFR. Consequently, KFR groups have identified tourists as primary targets, classifying them as ‘high-value victims.” However, maritime crime syndicates recognised the potential profitability of KFR. Most kidnapping incidents involved foreign travellers, underscoring the tendency of KFR groups to target individuals with the potential to generate significant ransom payments.
The ransom amount demanded varies based on the perceived value of the victims. High-value victims command significantly higher sums compared to low-value victims. The ransom typically ranges from RM25,000 (~$6,000) to RM3 million(~$710,000) per individual.
From
Ramli Dollah, Marja Azlima Omar, Hafiza Nur Adeen Nor Ahmad, Adi Jafar, & Dino, N. (2025). The Abu Sayyaf group and kidnapping for ransom in Sabah, Malaysia, 2000–2023. Journal of International Studies, 21(1), 137-155. https://doi.org/10.32890/jis2025.21.1.8
Tom McLaughlin for BorneoHistory.net