An alleged group of rebels kidnapped ten people on Sunday (2), including women and children, in the village of Quinto Congresso, Macomia district, in Cabo Delgado province, northern Mozambique, according to community sources, reported Lusa.
‘The victims were with their families, mothers, children and grandchildren, in the vicinity of the village, when they were surprised by this group,’ explained the source.
According to the source, as well as kidnapping the ten people, the supposed rebels stole food: ‘They also took meat that belonged to three old hunters in the community,’ the source said.
The scene created panic among residents and some decided to leave the community, taking refuge in the district headquarters.
This is the second kidnapping in less than a week in the province. On Thursday 30 January, alleged terrorists killed one person and kidnapped at least seven children during an attack in the district of Mocímboa da Praia.
In an official statement, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) expressed its ‘serious concern’ about the increase in child abductions by rebel groups in Cabo Delgado, warning that the victims are forced to perform combat duties, which it considers to be a ‘serious violation of the rights of minors’.
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 Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) will send a new contingent to support the fight against terrorist groups in Cabo Delgado province. According to information from the Rwandan Ministry of Defence, Major General Wilson Gumisiriza, commander of the RDF’s Mechanised Infantry Division, said goodbye to the contingent on Thursday 30 January, ‘prior to its deployment’.
