Maputo, 5 Feb (AIM) – The population of Mecufi town, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, experienced moments of panic from Saturday night until late Sunday, following information that islamist terrorists were on their way to the district capital, according to a report in Monday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”.
According to the paper, the panic emerged when information circulated saying that the terrorists were heading for the town after occupying the village of Namplimuity for about 19 hours.
Mecufi is about 50 kilometres from the Cabo Delgado provincial capital, Pemba.
In addition to the panic, the situation caused many families from Mecufi town and surrounding villages to flee to Pemba. Some bus drivers took advantage of the situation to push up their fares.
According to local sources, this is the same group of terrorists that last week ambushed the Mozambican forces in the neighboring district of Metuge. In their contact with the population, the group explained that their intention was to cross the Megaruma River into Chiúre district, which is why they did not carry out any acts of violence during their stay in Namplimuity.
“In fact, there’s panic here in Mecufi. People are leaving in the direction of Pemba. They haven’t reached Mecufi town, but they’ve signalled that they’re on their way. When they arrived in Namplimuity, they didn’t hurt anyone. They said they were going to Chiúre and asked to be accompanied to the Megaruma river”, a source said.
“They stayed all Saturday, from 07.00 to 20.00, killed a goat and ate it and then, in the evening, crossed the Megaruma river to the village of Soma in Chiúre district”, he added.
Other sources said that, due to the terrorist presence, security measures were reinforced in Mecufi town, with an increase in the number of soldiers, but this did not stop the population from fleeing towards Pemba.
Through their propaganda channels, the terrorists claim to have murdered, last week, eight members of the Mozambican forces, in Metuge district. They also claim to have destroyed four vehicles and seized various weapons from the Defense and Security Forces.
They boasted of beheading a civilian in the village of Litamanda, in Macomia district.
(AIM)
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