Tokay Trade Turns To Terror: Malaysian Once Held 378 Days By Abu Sayyaf In Ransom Kidnapping Ordeal

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Mohd Nazarrudin Saidin was determined to venture into a rare business — selling tokay geckos, or cicak tokek

His ambition was so strong that he divorced his wife and set off for Jolo in the southern Philippines, unaware of the nightmare that awaited him.

He left home on 28 April 2011 with a guide and translator, Abdul Ghafar Akkirulla. 

In early May 2011, during a phone call with his ex-wife Mazlina Mohamad, Nazarrudin mentioned encountering a group of armed men on the island, not knowing he would soon become their target.

On 8 May 2011, while Nazarrudin slept, his rented house was stormed by the group, one of Southeast Asia's most brutal terrorist organisations, the Abu Sayyaf. 

His apparent status as a businessman dealing in tokay geckos had led the group to believe he was wealthy, making him a prime target for ransom.

Abdul Ghafar was fortunate to be released, although his money and passport were seized. 

Nazarrudin, however, was forced to walk for hours through the jungle to the group's hideout, where he remained captive for 378 days. 

The kidnappers initially demanded RM5.6 million from his family, who tried to negotiate a lower sum. 

Weeks later, they returned with a final demand of RM60,000 to be paid within a week, or he would be killed.

The family pleaded, explaining they could barely make RM50 per day, but their pleas were ignored.

During his captivity, Nazarrudin was cared for but constantly threatened with death. 

He was forced to watch Abu Sayyaf's brutal videos and was warned repeatedly that he would be beheaded if the ransom was not paid. 

He once attempted to escape, but the dense mangrove forests and surrounding islands made it impossible. Exhausted and trapped, he had no choice but return to his captors.

As Nazarrudin's hope began to fade, a covert operation was launched in Malaysia, led by Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, now Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

Three officers, code-named Reno, Jaybon, and Komeng, were tasked with locating Nazarrudin and planning his extraction. 

Investigations revealed that the kidnapping had been orchestrated by Apo Mike, also known as Majan Sahidjuan, a sub-commander of Abu Sayyaf and a key planner of ransom operations along Sabah's eastern coast.

Using their expertise, the officers recruited a crucial source who served as a middleman between the authorities and Abu Sayyaf. 

Negotiations appealed to the kidnappers' humanity, emphasising the family's desperate situation and their shared Islamic faith as a plea for mercy. 

Gradually, the kidnappers began to soften.

By early May 2012, Ayob and his team flew to Sandakan and established a secret Tactical Operations Centre. 

Field reconnaissance was conducted to monitor boat movements, identify safe routes, and prepare for the covert extraction. 

On 11 May 2012, the team moved into position, with Reno and Jaybon stationed in the mangroves near Jampiras, Sandakan.

Everything hinged on the recruited source, who had spent nearly 24 hours navigating treacherous waters by speedboat, evading hostile groups, to reach Nazarrudin. 

In the early hours of 13 May, the signal came — Nazarrudin was ready. 

He was handed over in the shadowed waters between Sandakan and Taganak and finally brought safely back to Malaysian soil.

Sharing the story of the high-risk operation on Facebook, Ayob praised the meticulous planning and courage of the Special Branch officers involved — Reno, Jaybon, and Komeng. 

"They are unsung heroes, known only by their code names," he wrote, acknowledging their bravery.