Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak this morning spent time to meet three kidnap victims who were recently released after being detained by the Abu Sayyaf militant group since July last year.

Najib spent about half-an-hour with the three victims, who were accompanied by their family members at the prime minister's residence in Kuala Lumpur about 8.15 this morning.

The three Malaysian nationals - Jumadil Rahim, 24, Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 33, and Fandy Bakran, 27, - were rescued by the Philippine security forces in an operation in the Punay (Publicion) General Estino area of the Philippines at 11.30pm last Sunday. 

Also present was the president of Kelab Putera 1Malaysia, Abdul Azeez Rahim, who also joined in the conversation, recalling the unfortunate kidnapping incident while having breakfast.

All the family members could not keep their emotions in check when they hugged the victims tightly after more than eight months of detention by the terrorists.

The Foreign Ministry had earlier confirmed that Jumadil, Mohd Ridzuan and Fandy been rescued by the Sulu Joint Task Force in an operation called Full Force Military Operations in Sulu on March 26. 

The three victims arrived at the KL International Airport (KLIA) at 8pm yesterday.

On March 27, Najib met with two other fishermen who were also kidnapped - Tayudin Anjut, 46, and Abdul Rahim Summas, 63, and heard their stories about being treated as slaves and being forced to cook for the terrorist group, besides being given remnants of the food to be shared, and being able to drink only sea water. 

- Bernama