ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Two leaders of a kidnap gang linked to the Abu Sayyaf and tagged in the cross-border kidnapping of Indonesians and Malaysians were killed in a military operation in an island town off Sulu at dawn Tuesday. The military identified the slain suspects as Nixon Muktadil and his brother Brown, leaders of the Muktadil Brothers. “The two Muktadil brothers are the leaders and the architect and expert navigators conducting the kidnappings of foreign nationals in the border of Malaysia,” Tan said. The Muktadil brothers turned over their captives to the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu in exchange for money. The Abu Sayyaf militants have so far freed 14 of the Indonesians and Malaysians they hold captive for ransom.

Source: Philippine Star September 27, 2016 07:41 UTC