Five teachers traveling to Montepuez for a training program were among the victims of an attack carried out by suspected terrorists on Saturday afternoon (26) along Regional Road ER-698, near Nicokwe village in Montepuez District, Cabo Delgado Province.
According to the incident report, at around 1:40 p.m., a Nissan Hardbody pickup truck, registration AIC-115-HP, transporting teachers from Mueda to Montepuez, was intercepted by a group of more than 80 armed men carrying AK-47 rifles, PK machine guns, and RPG-7 rocket launchers. The attackers were wearing uniforms resembling those of the Defence and Security Forces (FDS), local militia members, and inspectors from Kambaco Safari. They communicated in the Muani, Swahili, Makonde, and Makua languages.
The teachers included Salimo Assane, 38, from Palma; Anastácio Aly Salimo, 39, from Zambézia; Abadre Faque, 40, from Ibo; Francisco José Matano, 34, from Montepuez; and Alberto João dos Santos, 44, from Mocímboa da Praia.
The victims were taken into the bush, where the insurgents demanded a ransom of 35,000 meticais for each teacher, totaling 185,000 meticais. After the ransom was paid, the teachers were released.
During the same incident, the terrorists intercepted a SINOTRUK truck, registration AAN-724-NP with trailer AB-057-NP, belonging to the timber company Saint Fung. The driver, Alaue Pedro Saide Issa, 47, from Mocímboa da Praia, was taken to a logging track where the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 50,000 meticais. The amount was paid by the company's owner, securing his release.
The attackers also stopped a white Isuzu vehicle, registration AAR-1B, driven by Sabi Afai, 29, from Mocímboa da Praia and a resident of the Nacate neighborhood in Montepuez. The driver was released after his employer paid a ransom of 130,000 meticais.
Among the passengers in the Isuzu were Teresa Fidel, 24, from Nangade, who paid 14,000 meticais for her release; Quijolo Selemane Issa, 45, from Palma, who paid 10,000 meticais; and Sábado Patrício Nampula, 46, head of the Nairoto Headquarters Locality and originally from Namuno, who was released after being forced to hand over 1,000 meticais.
According to the report, seven passengers from the Isuzu vehicle remain in terrorist captivity. The kidnappers are demanding 30,000 meticais for the release of each hostage.
The victims reported that after intercepting the vehicles, the terrorists forced all the occupants to continue in the Nissan pickup for approximately five kilometers off the main road. They were then made to walk about 10 kilometers into a mountainous area near Mirate, where negotiations over the ransom payments took place.
To receive the ransom money, the kidnappers used the mobile phone of driver Alaue Pedro Saide Issa, forcing him to transfer the funds to the number 866 942 381, registered in the name of Guilherme Francisco Njule. A total of 389,000 meticais was transferred.
The Defence and Security Forces stated that operations are underway to locate and rescue the seven passengers who remain in captivity. The case has been registered under complaint report No. 659/CDPRM/MTPZ/2026 and will be forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's Office for the appropriate legal proceedings.(MozaNorte)
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