By MOZTIMES
Pemba (MOZTIMES) – A group of insurgents affiliated with the Islamic State attacked the village of Nanduli, in the locality of Giote, Ancuabe district, Cabo Delgado province, on the morning of Sunday, 20 July. During the attack, the insurgents set fire to two houses, destroyed a community football field, looted food and livestock, and threatened to kill any residents who attempted to flee.
Local witnesses reported that the group was composed of around 50 men and three women, who arrived at about 9 a.m. and entered the village without encountering resistance. “They spoke Kimwani, Makua, and Makonde. They said anyone who tried to run would be killed. So no one ran. Everyone just stayed seated in their homes,” a resident told MOZTIMES on condition of anonymity.
According to local sources, the insurgents looted food from homes and, before retreating, burned down two residences and the community football field, which was fenced with reeds and served as a leisure space for village youth.
Since the start of the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado in October 2017, over 6,000 people have been killed, around half of them civilians, according to ACLED data. As a result of ongoing violence, the number of internally displaced persons has exceeded 1 million, with more than 541,000 still unable to return to their places of origin in Cabo Delgado alone. (MT)
