By Jose Tembe, MAPUTO,
Mozambique
The beheading of two people by suspected Islamist militants is causing alarm in northern Mozambique as such atrocities have become less common in recent years.
This is partly because
regional troops were deployed two years ago to help the army recapture
territory from the jihadists in the northern region of Cabo Delgado.
While this has allowed some
people to return to their villages, it has also encouraged retreating
insurgents to win over villagers from whom they buy food.
Of late they have been saying
their fight is with the defence forces, not locals.
But the decapitated bodies of
two fishermen were found in a bush near the village of Litamanda in Macomia
district on Monday.
It is believed they were
killed over the weekend. A group of militants were spotted near where the two
men resided, about 20km (12 miles) from Litamanda, on Saturday.
It comes two months after
another beheading in Cabo Delgado.
It is causing much concern
among villagers in the region who had hoped an end to the six-year-long
insurgency was in sight.
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