The Republic of Mozambique Police (PRM) has arrested two people suspected of simulating new attacks in the Ancuabe district, in the south of Cabo Delgado province, the corporation's spokesman said.

"These are arrests that resulted from denunciations from the population," said Mário Adolfo, PRM spokesman in Cabo Delgado province, quoted this Sunday by Televisão de Moçambique (TVM) and Lusa.

The two suspects were arrested in the village of Naputa, in Ancuabe district, 100 kilometers from the provincial capital (Pemba), after trying to set fire to residences in that village to spread panic and loot goods, according to authorities.

"We are seeing cases of disinformation, where individuals are trying to take advantage of the fragility of the populations, simulating new terrorist attacks to then loot residences," Mario Adolfo stated.

The new attacks in the southern strip of the province began on June 5 and targeted hidden points in the Ancuabe district, with the incursions also causing panic in some nearby districts, namely Metuge, Mecufi and Chiure, according to information from the provincial government.

Rebel incursions in the south of the province have caused deaths in undetermined numbers and a new wave of about 17,000 displaced people, in addition to impacting economic activity in the region.

It is suspected that the actions recorded in different locations in Ancuabe district are triggered by rebels fleeing the military offensive that has been underway since July 2021, with international support, in the far north of Cabo Delgado (Palma, Mocímboa da Praia and Muidumbe districts), in the area of the gas projects.

Cabo Delgado province has been terrorized since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.