
Maputo, 24 Sep (AIM) – The Mozambican Defence and Security Forces (FDS) on Monday captured two individuals, believed to be Islamist terrorists, in Mucojo Administrative Post, Macomia district, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
According to Tuesday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, citing local sources, the authorities suspect that the individuals are collaborators of terrorist groups, because they disobeyed an order issued by the authorities regarding the evacuation of civilians to safer areas.
The individuals were caught in their houses in the village of Machova, two kilometers from Macomia town.
The authorities learnt that the two individuals were selling fish brought from Mucojo.
According to a local resident, Mariamo Jamili, some people, who are not involved in acts of terrorism, still risk their lives by going to fish in Mucojo in order to have something to eat.
“Courageous people can go there. They say there’s nobody there, but people still go because they’re hungry. As you know, the displaced families are left to their own devices [there’s no way to cultivate a field because it’s still too early in the season]. So people take risks to get to Mucojo, fish in a hurry and return”, he said.
Last week, the Governor of Cabo Delgado, Valige Tauabo, said that the situation in Mucojo was stable, but not ready to receive returning civilians. So he discouraged displaced families from returning.
According to Maj-Gen Freitas Norte, of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM), the coast of Macomia, including Mucojo, Pangane and Quiterajo, has been checked and the likelihood of terrorist incursions is believed to be low, except for sporadic raids to steal food.
(AIM)
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