Abu Sayyaf gunmen abduct 10 fishermen who violated curfew

Ten fishermen, who were out in the Sabah waters in the early morning hours in violation of a curfew, are believed to have been abducted by Abu Sayyaf-linked gunmen.

According to a report in The Star, the 10 men were in two fishing boats in Lahad Datu's Tambisan waters around 2am this morning when they were hijacked by heavily armed gunmen.

The Tambisan waters are close to the Tawi Tawi chain of islands in southern Philippines.

The gunmen are thought to have fled towards the southern Philippines island of Sitangkai in two speedboats.

Sabah Police Commissioner Omar Mammah confirmed the kidnapping incident, but has no official reports as yet.