The Nampula provincial government confirmed last Saturday (04) that terrorist attacks had taken place in the Memba district, perpetrated by armed groups from Cabo Delgado. The attack resulted in 45 houses being burnt down and dozens of families fleeing to neighboring towns.

According to the provincial Secretary of State, Plácido Pereira, the attacks took place in two villages in the Lúrio and Chipene administrative posts. "In one of the villages 30 houses were set on fire and in the other 15 houses, forcing several families to flee," he revealed, adding that some of the displaced people are concentrated in the district headquarters of Memba and others in Eráti, and the process of counting them is still underway.

Pereira said that there were no fatalities so far. "At the moment, we have no information about deaths. What we do know is that there has been significant destruction of homes and displacement of people," he said during the Peace Day celebrations.

Quoted by Rigor NewspaperThe leader assured that the Defense and Security Forces reacted immediately and are pursuing the attackers. "The government is on the side of the people and will guarantee their safety. Our message is one of courage and strength," he said, in a message addressed to the affected communities.

This is considered the second largest terrorist attack recorded in Nampula province, after the one that took place on September 6, 2022, also in the Chipene administrative post in Memba, when insurgents set fire to a health center, a church and the residence of Catholic sisters, murdering 83-year-old Italian missionary Maria de Coppi.

The confirmation of these attacks renews fears about the expansion of extremist violence beyond the borders of Cabo Delgado, weakening security and social cohesion in communities in northern Mozambique.

(Photo DR)