"We survived by a miracle”: Passenger recounts armed attack on the road from Mueda to Tanzania

“We were in a minibus heading to Tanzania when everything happened.” This is how Pastor António Victor Nambueda describes the terrifying moments experienced during an armed attack near Roma.

According to his testimony, the journey was proceeding normally despite the poor condition of the road when a hooded man appeared. He seemed to be wearing a military uniform but was pretending to be a beggar. “He had a weapon and was trying to make us stop,” he said.

Faced with the danger, the passengers decided not to stop the vehicle. “We started praying and kept going. That’s when the shooting began,” he recalled.

During the attack, the driver was hit by a bullet, and two windows of the vehicle were shattered. “I was in the aisle praying, and at that moment the driver was shot,” he said.

Even after being wounded, the vehicle did not stop. “Two young men took hold of the steering wheel. The road was muddy, but we managed to escape at high speed,” he explained.

Inside the vehicle, there was panic and despair. “People were crying while the driver was bleeding.” Some passengers provided first aid, using pieces of cloth (capulanas) to tie his arm and stop the bleeding.

“We continued to Roma and then to Ninga. By God’s grace, we survived,” he said. Upon reaching Ninga, a police vehicle provided assistance, and the driver was taken to Ndanda Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

The pastor emphasized that the passengers came together to financially support the driver. “He saved us, like Jesus,” he said.

The incident highlights the risks faced by travelers on some roads in the region, which are often marked by reports of armed attacks.

“I can only thank God that we are alive,” he concluded. (Mozanorte)