The population of Impiri, in the Metuge district of the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, reported to Lusa today the kidnapping of three members of the community, as they were returning from their daily activities.
According to community sources, around 60 kilometers from the city of Pemba, the kidnapping of three civilians, two elderly people and a young man, took place at around 7pm (5pm in Lisbon) on Sunday, when the victims were surprised by hooded men, as they were returning from their activities near the Megaruma River, on the border with the Chiúre district.
“The information is true, there were three people, they were walking towards home and never returned and we realized that there were strong indications of terrorists circulating”, said a local source from Impriri.
“Nobody knows if they are alive or not, but we remain hopeful”, said another local source.
The situation has led some farmers working in the south of the district to abandon their farmland.
“Some people are leaving, we don’t have enough courage,” said another source.
Since October 2017, the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed rebellion with attacks claimed by movements associated with the extremist group Islamic State.
The last major attack took place on 10 and 11 May, in the district headquarters of Macomia, with around a hundred insurgents looting the town, causing several deaths and heavy fighting with the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces and Rwandan military, which is supporting Mozambique in the fight against the rebels.
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