Africa-Press – Mozambique. A trader of Pakistani nationality who was kidnapped by three unknown men in Beira, Sofala province, on Saturday has been released, the Mozambican police announced on Monday.
According to information provided to journalists by Sofala provincial spokesman for the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) Roberto Selemane on Saturday, three individuals approached the victim in the early afternoon as he was being transported on a motorbike, and, “equipped with blunt instruments”, managed to take him away, depriving him of his freedom for more than 24 hours.
The PRM spokesman said, however, that the case could not be classified as a kidnapping (‘rapto’ – normally for financial reasons), but rather as an abduction (‘sequestro’ – deprivation of liberty). “After investigations on the ground, it was concluded that sufficient elements were not present for [classification as] the type of crime [kidnapping] mentioned at the time,” he explained.
According to Rádio Moçambique “the kidnappers discovered that they had mistaken the individual for his boss”.
Without providing further details of the investigation, though confirming that the victim was released, the PRM claimed to be in possession of information allowing the kidnappers to be identified, and said that steps were continuing with a view to their neutralization and subsequent subjection to criminal liability.
This is the first case of kidnapping or abduction in the city of Beira in almost two years.
Two kidnappings are recorded as having occurred in Maputo this year, with the victims still in captivity, plus one unsuccessful attempt.
Mozambican authorities arrested 38 people allegedly involved in the wave of kidnappings, mainly in Maputo, in 2023, when a total of 13 cases were recorded.
After a period of relative stability, kidnapping cases have been recorded again since 2023, with Maputo again the focus.
Mozambican authorities have on several occasions admitted the possible involvement of magistrates and members of Mozambican police in these crimes, the ramifications of which extend to neighbouring South Africa, a country with which Mozambique has strong ties.
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