Mozambique: Villages arrest members of terrorist group – AIM report

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Mozambique: Villages arrest members of terrorist group – AIM report

6:32 CAT | 26 Nov 2018

Photo: STV (screen grab)

Residents of the village of Squaia, in Nangade district, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, have hit back against the terrorist group who murdered 12 villagers last Thursday night.

ALSO READ: Twelve people killed in another armed attack in Nangade district, Cabo Delgado – Chicuaia Velha

According to a report in Monday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Mocambique”, local people pursued the raiders and detained seven of them who were later handed over to the police.

The report adds a few details to what has already been published about this latest raider. The attackers, armed mostly with knives and similar weapons, burst into the village (named in earlier reports as Chicuaia Velha) after 22.00 when most of the villagers were already asleep.

ALSO READ: More details on suspected militant attack in Nangade, north Mozambique – AFP report

The attackers went from house to house, knocking on the doors. Many of those who opened were stabbed, some fatally. But if villagers did not open the door, the attackers set the house on fire.

40 houses were left as smouldering ruins and at least 12 people were murdered. But the residents organised a group to pursue the raiders into the bush. Among the seven youths they captured was a man who had killed his own brother, who was a local businessman, and stole goods and money. The stolen goods and cash were recovered from the killer.

After an initial silence, the Nangade district government admitted the attack had occurred, but gave few details.

It is assumed that the attackers are part of the same islamist terror organisation that launched an insurrection in Cabo Delgado in October 2017. The initial focus of the attacks was Mocimboa da Praia district, but more recently it is villages in the neighbouring district of Macomia that have been most at risk.

This is the third attack in Nangade district, and there have also been raids into Palma district.

The insurgents are using child soldiers. A source in the Palma district government told “Carta de Mocambique” that an increasing number of adolescents are involved in the raids. He said that among one group of insurgents detained in September, there were children aged between 12 and 15.

Source: AIM