The Islamic State Mozambique (ISM) has launched attacks in Balama District the last in Cabo Delgado Province to be attacked by the terror group. The militants raided three villages, beheading people and burning down homes.
Preliminary reports indicated that at least 5 people were brutally beheaded in the attack that occurred in three villages; Muripa, Mualia, and Marica villages.
The first village, Muripa, is located less than 10km from Balama district headquarters where at last one person was beheaded. The second village is located at least 7km east of Balama town and here two people were beheaded, the village ransacked and homes razed to the ground. The third village to be attacked by the militants was Marica village where they attacked farmers in the fields beheading at least two of them.
Following the attacks, intelligence revealed that the cell comprised of over 40 terrorists that attacked Balama, moved towards Nropa village in Montepuez district.
The recent attacks come as Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi urges residents of liberated areas to return home as well as be accepting and tolerant of repentant militants who hope to rejoin the society after being members of the ISM. Additionally, ISM continues to expand and capture and or attack districts in CD which has been displacing tens of thousands of people every week.
