Naparama Spiritual Leader Arrested in Cabo Delgado

- The Arrest of Régulo (chief) Muiko has heightened tensions after a massacre of militiamen in Messanja

- Jihadist insurgents are continuing their offensive in southern Cabo Delgado, torching more buildings

By Celestino Carlos

Chiúre (MOZTIMES) – Police on Thursday arrested Régulo (chief) Muiko, from the Katapua headquarters administrative post, who is regarded as the spiritual leader of the Naparama peasant militia in Chiúre district, in southern part of Cabo Delgado province.

According to local sources, the arrest is linked to the massacre of Naparama members during a clash with Islamist insurgents in the village of Messanja last Sunday. However, there are fears that the detention could trigger community violence due to growing anger among militiamen and their supporters.

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The régulo is considered the spiritual leader of the Naparama and is described as the figure responsible for guiding the militia’s activities and methods of operation.

The Naparamas first came to prominence in the late 1980s, when they were in an informal alliance with government forces against the then rebel movement, Renamo. In recent years, the Naparamas have reappeared, often fighting against the government,

One of the defining characteristics of the Naparamas is their belief that traditional rituals and treatments grant them special powers capable of protecting them from gunfire.

This belief persists, even though the first leader of the group, a charismatic healer named Manuel Antonio, died in a hail of Renamo bullets in 1991.

The arrest of Régulo Muiko comes as several militia members are also being detained. According to a local source, a number of young members of the group are currently fleeing their homes for fear of being arrested by the defence and security forces.

“Until now, it is still unclear why the authorities decided to round up all the Naparamas,” said a local community leader. “Some residents in Katapua praise this decision because the group was creating insecurity in that part of the district. But there are also fears that Naparama members on the run could reorganise and carry out attacks against the authorities”.

In addition to fighting the jihadist insurgency, the Naparama have been accused of using violent and intimidating methods against local state authorities, and have been linked to the lynching and killing of police officers and health workers.

Read also... Two Police Officers Tortured to Death by Naparama Militias in Chiúre

Thus, although they contribute to the defence of communities against the insurgents, the Naparamsa are also viewed as a major threat to public security.

President Daniel Chapo has already described the Naparama as one of the main threats to public security, equating them with terrorism and with the violent post-election protests.

At the time, the Naparama were involved in post-election violence, including attacks on government buildings, killings of police officers and the destruction of police stations, particularly in Zambézia province.

Insurgent attacks continue in southern Cabo Delgado

Meanwhile, insurgents have continued to carry out attacks in southern Cabo Delgado. On 21 May, jihadist militants set fire to a Catholic church and two market stalls in the village of Ingonane, about 30 kilometres from the headquarters of the Namogelia administrative post.

According to sources based in Namogelia, the attack occurred shortly after government forces had passed through the area. Moments later, a group of men wearing military uniforms was seen setting fire to the church and the stalls, causing fear and confusion among residents.

After noticing suspicious movements and realising that the uniforms were incomplete, residents fled to other villages, including Bilibiza and Samora Machel, the latter located in the Ocua administrative post.

The village of Ingonane lies in the interior of Namogelia, not far from Chiuco, an area currently under military control due to the insecurity affecting that part of Chiúre district.

The movement of armed men in the area has been reported since the latest insurgent attack in Katapua, with suspicion that the groups are moving towards the southern part of the district.

Other witnesses said they were working in their fields harvesting sesame, maize and beans when, upon returning to the village, they saw a group of soldiers driving from the Aldeia 40 area towards Chiuco.

Government forces have been deployed to Chiúre in an attempt to contain the attacks, but the insurgents remain active. (CC)

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