Abu Sayyaf gunmen seize truck driver in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A private firm's heavy equipment driver was abducted by suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen in Patikul, Sulu on Friday morning.

The victim was identified as Awan Usman, 30, a driver of a cement mixer mechanical truck under the management of a certain Engr. Tabanllang.

Senior Superintendent Antonio Freyra, Sulu provincial police director, said the victim was driving the heavy equipment when he was flagged down by 8 masked Abu Sayyaf gunmen at the vicinity of sitio Baunoh Butong, Kilometer 5 of Barangay Latih, Patikul.

The militants, believed to be followers of Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Basaron and Ninok Safari, seized Usman at gunpoint and escaped towards the hinterland.

The incident happened at about 8:30 a.m.

Freyra said police forces in Patikul town were investigating the motive of the abduction of Usman. He said that the abduction could have been a part of the bandit group's extortion plot on the construction company.

He said that they have not received any information yet if the abductors have already communicated and asked for ransom money from the victim’s family or to the construction firm.