Mozambique: Known death toll from cyclone rises to six
Image: O País
Commander-in-chief of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), Bernardino Rafael, has urged residents in Montepuez district, Cabo Delgado, to redouble their vigilance in order to foil opportunists posing as insurgents in order to loot people’s belongings.
Speaking at the presentation of a Border Guard unit being deployed there, Bernardino Rafael noted there had recently been cases of people setting fire to houses and taking the opportunity of the ensuing panic to loot possessions.
“Be vigilant for people who are taking advantage to steal from villages abandoned by the population. They hide at night and leave from their villages for those places where they play the terrorist and burn down houses to loot. Now there is this phenomenon. In one of the villages, those who went there to burn houses are people who left the villages of Ancuabe. Goats were stolen there. Report people with bad intentions to the authorities,” Bernardino Rafael urged.
The PRM commander-general said that young people should not be swayed by promises made to them to join the miscreants who have since 2017 been sowing panic and terror in Cabo Delgado province.
Rafael also addressed the setting up in Montepuez of an Independent Company of the Border Guard Police, whose objective is to combat terrorism and illegal immigration.
READ: Mozambique: Police trying to quell illegal immigrants in north ruby-rich region
Special Forces in the fight against terrorism: Independent unit for Montepuez
Gemfields reports attack near Mozambique ruby mine
“Here, in Mossuril, there is already a barracks for the border force. We are here to work with the population, not to mistreat them. If the population finds that we are working badly, they must inform the mayor, the administrator or the district commander, so that we can take swift action,” he advised.
According to Rafael, illegal immigrants in Montepuez enjoy an ideal location for exploiting rubies and practicing mining and terrorist activities.
Rafael urged communities to collaborate with the Border Guard Police, who would also play an important role in the fight against terrorism, saying they should denounce any agent seen to be indulging in deviant behaviour.
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.