Terrorists attack roads and kidnap driver in Mozambique

Terrorists operating in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique intercepted vehicles and kidnapped the driver of a passenger vehicle, local sources told Lusa this Monday.

The kidnapping took place on Friday afternoon along the National Road 380 (N380), Unguia Junction, 56 kilometers from Meluko ​​District Headquarters, when the victim refused to stop after being intercepted by the terrorists.

The rebels then opened fire on the car’s tires and ordered all passengers removed, forcing the driver to remain inside.

“He soon realized that they were [terroristas], but I wanted to challenge the way I drive, like racing. They punctured the car and the rims. The rest were told: “You can go,” said a source from the Ankuabe district headquarters who was in the car.

On the same day, a Civil Identification Department driver traveling from Meluco to the city of Pemba discovered during his trip that the community of Unguia was completely abandoned, with the population seeking refuge in the forests.

“He returned to the forest and found a group of people from whom he asked for a phone number to contact his wife, alerting them to the situation,” another source added, also saying that this was not the first time rebels had intercepted vehicles on that section of the N380. , where the movement is carried out without military escort, unlike what happens in other parts of Cabo Delgado.

Suspected terrorists stopped another passenger transport between Nampula and Palma with nearly 60 people on Sunday afternoon near Nangororo village in Meluko ​​district, forcing passengers to hand over their belongings.

“Suddenly, terrorists in large numbers and all armed came out onto the road and stopped the bus. They forced passengers to hand over money as a condition for continuing their trip. The passengers handed over their money and [eles] they allowed the trip to continue,” said a source from Macomia, reporting the panic experienced by the occupiers and the case being reported to the authorities.

On Saturday morning, another group of militants attacked the Lithamanda community of Macomia district and were suspected of causing the death of a 19-year-old girl, causing panic among residents who fled to the neighboring Chai community, which has a military post.

“They entered Litamanda because there were very few people there. The young woman was found dead nearby,” said a source close to the victim.

Cabo Delgado province has been facing an armed insurgency for six years, with attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State, leading to a military response since July 2021 with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). liberation of areas near gas projects.

After a period of relative stability, new attacks and movements have been recorded in Cabo Delgado in recent weeks, although local authorities suspect the movement is linked to a crackdown carried out by defense and security forces in the districts of Macomia, Quisanga and Muidumbe, including the hardest hit.

The conflict has already displaced one million people, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and nearly 4,000 people have died, according to the ACLED Conflict Recording Project.