Niassa: crime is reaching alarming proportions in Mecanhelas

 

 

The rise in criminal activity, particularly in the form of home robberies, is shaking the population of Mecanhelas District in southern Niassa, northern Mozambique.

On the night of Friday (24), a group of criminals robbed an entrepreneur in the Mondlane/Novo neighborhood in the Municipal Village of Insaca.

It is reported that dozens of men, armed with bladed and firearms, broke into the house where they stole an unspecified amount of money and a motorcycle, which was later recovered by the residents.

During the confrontation, the homeowner was injured by blows to one of his arms.

"There were many men with blunt objects, and I also saw two of them armed with firearms, but they did not take action. The neighbors tried their best, but it was not possible because they were surrounded," said the victim.

According to the source, the robbery lasted about 20 minutes.

"Then the police arrived, but it was already too late. I went to the hospital where I received treatment," the victim added.

The criminals also intimidated the neighbors of the victims, as one neighbor recounted.

"When we heard the cries for help, we ran there, but we couldn’t get inside. The house was full of bandits, and they threatened us. We started throwing stones, and after a while, they fled. We chased one who was taking the motorcycle, we managed to recover it, but he escaped," said the neighbor.

Two neighbors were injured with machetes while trying to assist at the scene.

"I heard cries for help, help! As I was heading there with my machete, I was hit in the head, I retreated and ran back home," said one of the injured.

The neighborhood is frequently affected by crime, and residents are demanding more security, accusing local police officers of negligence.

"Because we suffer here all the time. We are the victims, sometimes it's fire, but this time we are very sad about this news. In this neighborhood, we have police, but when we shout, no one shows up," lamented one resident.

Another resident added, "It happens frequently in our neighborhood. Now, I don’t know what kind of gang this is, and we are really asking for help. We have police around, but none of them rush to help us when this kind of thing happens."

This is the second incident of this kind reported this month in the Municipal Village of Insaca, Mecanhelas, as reported by Mozanorte. (Jaime Paculeque)