The Commander General of the Republic of Mozambique Police (PRM), Bernardino Rafael, says that the journalist and CDD social activist, Sheila Wilson, was arrested because she was creating unrest.

Regarding the riots surrounding the operation to forcibly remove the former officers of the National People's Security Service, SINASP, which also culminated in the arrest of the journalist and the theft of STV's filming equipment, the PRM Commander General said that the journalist's arrest was carried out to ensure public order and tranquillity.

"Unfortunately, a journalist appeared, I don't know if she registered where, who was creating a stir, what you saw on the net. We didn't hit anyone, we didn't assault anyone, look it up, there was no assault. So it was to save our colleagues. We spoke to them well and they left without any problems," he said, as quoted by O País.

What's more, Bernardino Rafael asked the press to prove that the police did in fact use force to disperse demonstrators who had been camped outside the United Nations offices for days.

"First you have to prove it. What happened? As journalists, what have you seen wrong done by the police? First, a body has to come forward and show the harm that the police have done. Is it bad to protect someone who is dirty, who is inside dirt, who could probably catch diseases? Is protecting someone near the hospital, the Icor (Heart Institute), near the diplomatic service, good? I think there are things that people provoke to see the reaction. We don't react against them, they're our colleagues. And they themselves can testify that we haven't harmed them. We want to protect their health and that of their families. Nothing more," he said, as quoted by the newspaper.

Several national and international organizations have issued statements condemning the reports of violence against journalists and calling on the Mozambican authorities to investigate these incidents, ensuring that all perpetrators are held accountable.