A businessman of Rwandan nationality was kidnapped yesterday morning in Mahlampsene, Matola, and was returned to freedom hours later due to pressure from the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC).

The victim was surprised in front of his building material store by four individuals armed with firearms who, under threat, dragged him to a Toyota Ractis vehicle.

The bandits abandoned the victim's vehicle in Matola "C", in the Hanhane area, and transferred it to another vehicle, in which they drove through the Greater Maputo region, while demanding money to return him to freedom.

SERNIC spokesman Henrique Mendes says the corporation has learned of the case and activated the operational lines in order to rescue the businessman alive, identify and hold the kidnappers accountable.

The identification of the kidnappers' whereabouts was possible by tracing the victim's cell phones, which remained on and with the tracking device activated.

"Upon realizing the operation of the law and order agents, the criminals fled, having seized cell phones and five thousand meticais. The victim was abandoned in the Mavoco neighborhood, Boane district," said Mendes. (News)