At around midnight on January 24, 2026, an aggravated armed robbery was recorded on a public road in the Nacate neighborhood, Montepuez city, Cabo Delgado province.
According to a statement believed to have been issued by the local PRM, the crime was carried out by two agents of the Mozambique Civic Service assigned to the Montepuez Civic Service Training and Instruction Center, namely Inácio Banze, 27 years old, a motorcycle rider at the Center and a member of the FADM, resident of the Nacate neighborhood, and Edson Almeida, 25 years old, also a member of the FADM and resident of the same neighborhood, in collaboration with a civilian identified as Gilberto Afito Sauale, 27 years old, a farmer, resident of the Matunda neighborhood.
Authorities report that the suspects were traveling on a Lifo brand motorcycle and, armed with an AK-47 type firearm bearing serial number 10815, fired two shots into the air, threatening the victim, Isac Tomás Filipe, a 36-year-old trader and resident of the Nacate neighborhood. The suspects then stole his grey Toyota Allion vehicle, bearing registration number AGG-098-MP.
Following the initial criminal act, the same individuals proceeded to the Matuto 1 neighborhood, where they intercepted three citizens, namely Divanildo Stelio, 21 years old, Issa Augusto Lauma, 22 years old, and Razaque Bento, also 22 years old. Under threat with a firearm, and after firing one shot, they stole seven mobile phones, including four smartphones and three basic keypad phones.
The suspects confessed to all the acts committed. According to the confession of Inácio Banze, in his capacity as a driver, he unlawfully removed the firearm from a truck where it had been deposited by Assane Daudo, a member of the FADM, who had collected the weapon in Maputo and was on a service mission in Montepuez. After the operation, the firearm was returned to the same location without the knowledge or consent of its owner.
Following the alert, a patrol unit immediately moved to the scene. Upon noticing the police presence, the suspects abandoned the motorcycle and fled with the stolen vehicle. The pursuit ended with the recovery of the vehicle at the residence of one of the suspects in the Matunda neighborhood, where all three suspects were neutralized and arrested.
During the operation, police seized one vehicle, one Lifo motorcycle, seven mobile phones, and one AK-47 type firearm. The items are currently held at the Command, with the mobile phones having been returned to their rightful owners.
The suspects remain in custody, and case file no. 71/CD/PRM/PRM/MTZ/2026 has been opened and will be forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for further legal proceedings, the same statement explains. (Mozanorte)
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