Maputo, 18 Sep (AIM) – Islamist terrorists killed at least 12 people on Thursday, in Naquitengue village, in Mocímboa da Praia district, in the northern Province of Cabo Delgado, according to a report in Monday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Carta de Moçambique.”
According to local sources, cited by the paper, the attack began at around 17.00 and was carried out by a group of men dressed in Mozambican military uniforms and wearing head scarves. In the attack all the victims were male.
This is the first report of a fatal attack by terrorists, since the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS) had intensified operations against their bases on the coast of Macomia district, which resulted in the killing of their leader, Bonomade Machude Omar, along with other senior members of the group.
A military source suggested that the terrorists may have taken advantage of the absence of the defence forces from Naquitengue to kill civilians.
Another armed attack was reported in Muidumbe district on Thursday, when terrorists attacked a fishing centre located near Lake Inguri.
The area, known as Xitaxi, is about 20 kilometres from the EN380 road that connects Macomia to the town of Oasse, where, despite the incident, road traffic is running normally.
“There is no confirmation of the number of fatalities, with reports of the death of two men, while other reports say that just one person was killed. However, the destruction of huts, the looting of food and the theft of bicycles were confirmed”, a source told the paper.
“They were chased to an area called Namatil and, when they saw that the local forces were present, they abandoned some of the stolen goods, including two bicycles”, he added.
(AIM)
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