AMERICAS

1. (COLOMBIA, 06/05/18) Gunmen kidnap man escorted by humanitarian mission
A group of unknown armed men abducted a community leader who was being escorted by a humanitarian mission in an area by the Naya River, in the Cauca department. The victim, Iber Ángulo Zamora, was provided with an escort of humanitarian workers from the Defensoria del Pueblo to evacuate him from the area following threats and a kidnapping attempt on 2 May. On that occasion, Angulo was able to escape and find refuge. Once the humanitarian mission had reached Angulo on 6 May, the convoy was intercepted by a group of armed men who took him away. FULL ARTICLE (1)

MIDDLE EAST

2. (UAE, 06/05/18) Duo accused of kidnapping tourist in Dubai
Two men, an Iranian national and an Emirati, have been accused of posing as policemen and kidnapping a young tourist before making off with her passport and money. The 19-year-old Ukrainian tourist was walking to her residence in February when the two men on a black car stopped in front of her, and introducing themselves as a policemen, asked for her personal identification papers. Claiming some issue with the documentation, the men told her she had to accompany them to the police station. When the woman refused, both men forced her into the car and drove off. The woman was then assaulted and her valuables taken from her. When the men then stopped at a parking area, apparently to get the woman into another car, she managed to run away, alerting passersby who helped her and called the police. FULL ARTICLE

AFRICA

3. (LIBYA, 06/05/18) Libyan security recovers body of kidnapped bank manager
On 6 May, Libyan security forces found the body of a local bank manager kidnapped by gunmen on 25 April from his farm near the city of Sabha. A security source confirmed that the body of Saleh Ibrahim presented signs of torture and gunshots. The bank manager was kidnapped for ransom, and it is believed he was killed because his family could not pay. FULL ARTICLE (1)

ASIA

4. (AFGHANISTAN, 07/05/18) Indian engineers kidnapped in northern Afghanistan
Seven Indian engineers were kidnapped in Baghlan province along with their Afghan driver on 6 May. Unknown gunmen abducted them from their vehicle on the outskirts of the provincial capital, Pul-e Khomri. No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. However, provincial authorities have attributed the incident to Taliban militants lead by a man known as Shaheen. Provincial council chairman Mohammad Safdar Mohseni said the group had ignored warnings to take a police escort through the area, which is largely controlled by the Taliban. Indian officials in Kabul said the engineers worked for Indian engineering company KEC, in projects for the Afghan power company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat company (DABS), which operates a power station in northern Baghlan. The Afghan Interior Ministry has said they are in talks with tribal elders and local influential figures to free the group. The MoI also said that a rescue operation in the area will be conducted by the Afghan security forces if necessary. A senior Indian embassy official said over 150 Indian engineers and technical experts are currently working across Afghanistan on large infrastructure projects. FULL ARTICLE (1) (2) (3)

5. (PHILIPPINES, 08/05/18) Abu Sayyaf militants killed, soldiers wounded during hostage rescue operation in Sulu
Three Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members were killed, while seven soldiers were wounded in a violent encounter on 7 May during a security operation to rescue two police officers and two civilians abducted by the group in Patikul, Sulu, on 30 April. According to local media, at least one hostage was rescued during the operation. The ASG had reportedly demanded P5 million (USD 96,300) for the release of kidnapped group. FULL ARTICLE (1) (2)