The National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) in Niassa has dismantled a gang of robbers after an exchange of fire resulted in the death of one of the eight members of the group.

According to SERNIC, five of the seven people indicted on charges of aggravated robbery using a pistol were arrested at the Moluco administrative post, in the Nipepe district, when they were trying to return to Nampula province.

The spokesman, Moisés Matangue, said that during the capture of the accused there was an exchange of fire, which culminated in the shooting of one of the gang members. The man who was shot died in Nipepe district hospital.

"A worker from that commercial establishment, a Bengali citizen and the husband of the owner of that same establishment were involved in the crime. Of the seven individuals, seven come from Nampula province. We also have the arrest of a national, which took place in Lichinga. He is accused of committing crimes of aggravated theft in public institutions in the district of Muembe," he said.

However, the individual arrested in Muembe for stealing from state institutions refutes the accusations.

"I think I'm unlucky. They didn't find anything in my house. This [material they are presenting] I don't know where they took it", he said.