Police: Yemen national abducted in Marawi

A Yemen national was abducted by seven gunmen in the southern Philippines province of Lanao del Sur, a police official said Friday. The kidnapping was confirmed by Marawi City Superintendent Police Chief Julius Coyme but declined to give further details. Police operations are ongoing to rescue the victim, Coyme added. A separate police report identified the victim as Najibal Al-Udaini, 30. His vehicle was flagged down by armed men clad in military uniforms in Old Capitol, Barangay Matampay about 10 p.m. last January 29. The victim's driver said he was immediately handcuffed at the vehicle’s steering wheel, while Udaini was immediately grabbed and transferred to a waiting black Toyota Tamaraw FX. The victim was a student of the Mindanao State University and a member of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth. The group is responsible for building schools and mosques in the area. Authorities have yet to determine if the abduction was another kidnap-for-ransom case or politically motivated. Yemen, which has a population of 23 million, is located on the Arabian Peninsula, bordered on the north by Saudi Arabia. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV