By Our Correspondent, MTWARA Tanzania
Regional Commissioner
for Mtwara region in Tanzania, Gelasius Byakanwa has denied recent reports on
social media claiming that several Tanzanian soldiers and civilians had been
killed in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique by insurgents.
In May this year, Tanzania deployed additional
troops at the Mozambique border to boost security amid increased insurgent
activity in Cabo Delgado province. In the previous month, insurgent activity
reportedly killed at least 50 people in Muidumbe district with the United
Nations recording at least 28 attacks and over 400 people killed in the region
since the beginning of the year.
It has been reported on social media that a
number of Tanzania army officers were killed by insurgents in the border area, the
report that Byakanwa denies vehemently.
"48 killed and relatives are aware and informed! I know 2 families who lost their relatives" One twitter post read.
"As I speak now, there is no military officer or any civilian from Tanzania who has been killed on the Tanzanian border with Mozambique," Byakanwa said.
The Commissioner said that Tanzania's border
with Mozambique is secure even as attacks continue in the northern province of
Cabo Delgado.
Speaking at a news conference, Byakanwa said
that the government has beefed up security through several major security
operations in all the areas.
In August 12, Tanzanian military officials
ordered civilian living in forest on the border with Mozambique to vacate ahead
of major security operations aimed at dislodging Islamist militants from the
area.
"Our security organs are very alert and
well organized to ensure Tanzania's border with the neighbouring country is
safe," he stressed.
The RC explained that security officers along
the border were strictly monitoring all travellers entering the country from
Mozambique, urging Tanzanians living at the border to remain vigilant and
report any suspicious activities in their respective areas for security
purposes.
"I call upon citizens, especially
those located near Ruvuma River to give us information about people entering
the country illegally and people who endanger public security," he said.
The Commissioner who is the chairperson of regional security committee stressed the need for Tanzanians travelling
to Mozambique to ensure they travel through official routes and carry passports
and other travelling documents for safety purposes.
He advised Tanzanians travelling to Mozambique
to use Kilambo and Mtambaswala bridges, and that people in border communities
should adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and the central
government.
No comments:
Post a Comment