Maputo, 21 Nov (AIM) – A group of islamist terrorists murdered at least 18 people in Ancuabe district, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, while they were attending a traditional ceremony regarding female initiation rites.
According to local sources, cited in Thursday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, the massacre took place last Sunday.
The terrorists killed civilians and members of the peasant militia known as Naparamas.
“The Naparamas who left Nanjua were killed, but the exact number is not yet known. They were confronting the terrorists and ended up dying. A member of the local force also died in the bush, but other people in the village didn’t escape death. The situation in Ancuabe is not good”, one source said.
Another source explained that the members of the peasant militia were shot dead, and then beheaded.
“The number we had until Tuesday was 18 people. That’s the number of bodies located. Initially there were five beheaded Naparamas. The following day, another person was found decapitated. All I can say is that the district is in very bad shape, many people are fleeing”, the source said.
“I myself I’m here in Pemba (the provincial capital), I arrived yesterday afternoon”, he added.
The situation has led to a new wave of displacement, and a considerable number of families from Nacuale, Marrocane and Nanjua villages have abandoned their homes.
The Islamic State’s propaganda outlets have confirmed the attack in Nacuale and claimed that twelve militiamen from the Naparama group were killed. However, they had previously announced that six members of the Mozambican Security Forces (FDS) were killed.
(AIM)
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