- The victims were accused of looting abandoned homes amid fear of insurgent attacks
- Police failed to intervene in time to save the victims from mob violence
By MOZTIMES
Pemba (MOZTIMES) – Residents have lynched two men accused of looting food supplies and other goods from villages in areas affected by jihadist attacks in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.
According to community sources, the lynching took place on the night of 8 May in the village of Ncocori, in the Metoro administrative post of Ancuabe district. This is an area facing growing instability as insurgent attacks spread southwards across the province.
On the same day as the lynching in Ncocori, insurgents attacked the neighbouring village of Namacuili, and the alleged looters are believed to have taken advantage of residents fleeing the violence to raid abandoned homes.
Despite the mass displacement, some men reportedly remained hidden in the nearby bush to guard their properties. It was during this time that several individuals were allegedly caught carrying out looting.
“There were more men involved, but the population managed to capture only five looters,” a community source said. “Those captured were beaten before being handed over to the police,” the source added.
Due to the severity of the injuries inflicted during the beatings, two of the five detainees died at the scene, while the remaining three were taken to the Ancuabe District Command of the Mozambican police force (PRM).
A source in the Ancuabe district administration confirmed by telephone that two of the men captured by residents remained hospitalised at the Ancuabe district health centre until late Saturday night.
Mob violence against people accused of belonging to insurgent groups, or pretending to be insurgents, is common in Cabo Delgado and is exacerbated by the absence of police authorities in many communities.
When suspects are captured by residents, police are often not present to prevent acts of torture or even killings, as occurred in this case. The situation increases the risk of escalating communal violence. (MT)
