GEWELDDADIGE EKSTREMISTIESE AANVALLE NABY ONS STASIE IN DIE MACOMIA-DISTRIK VAN MOSAMBIEK
Volgens ‘n verslag in ‘n plaaslike koerant het ‘n gewapende groep Islamitiese fundamentaliste verlede week een persoon doodgemaak en ‘n ander ernstig beseer in Nacutuco, naby Mucojo in die Macomia-distrik. Hierdie distrik is ‘n afgeleë gebied in Noord-Mosambiek, slegs ‘n paar kilometer vanaf ons stasie, Radio Nuru.
Hierdie geval is slegs een uit honderde ander gewelddadige voorvalle. Verskeie dorpe in die noorde van Mosambiek is die afgelope jaar afgebrand en inwoners op wreedaardige wyses vermoor. Hierdie gewelddadige voorvalle voeg by tot die wydverspreide vrees, wat vinnig besig is om in ‘n tragedie te verander.
Aanvanklik het aanvalle hoofsaaklik in die Nangande-distrik in die provinsie van Cabo Delgado plaasgevind, maar in die afgelope drie weke het die aantal aanvalle in die Mucojo-omgewing naby ons radiostasie verhoog. Dit is ook ‘n gebied waarin verskeie luisteraarklubs vroeër vanjaar gestig is.
Volgens ‘n verslag wat ons ontvang het van ons Suid-Afrikaanse bestuurspaar by Radio Nuru, was dit ‘n jaar gekenmerk deur geweld en lyding vir die plaaslike mense. Gedurende die afgelope vier weke, is nog vier dorpe afgebrand en inwoners wat nie betyds kon vlug nie, is doodgemaak. Buiten die groot aantal mense wat in hierdie aanvalle gesterf het, is honderde huise, skole, kerke, Moskees, klinieke, winkels asook oeste afgebrand. Kos wat nie deur die vuur vernietig is nie, is deur die aanvallers gebuit.
As gevolg van die aanvalle en vrees, is daar min mense wat in die landerye wil gaan werk en baie sal nie hierdie jaar plant of oes nie. Om op te staan teen hierdie kommerwekkende situasie vra ons dringend al ons ondersteuners om asseblief vir Radio Nuru, die personeel en luisteraars te bid.
Ons stasiebestuurders skryf, “Ons wil julle uitnooi om saam met ons vir een tot drie dae af te sonder om te vas en bid vir ons distrik en aangrensende areas. Ons span saam met plaaslike evangeliese groepe hierin. Ons wil ook dankie sê aan almal wat alreeds vir ons bid. Daar was tye wat angs ons omsingel het, maar ons het gou rus en vrede in God as skuilplek gevind. Julle ondersteuning het baie daartoe bygedra.”
VIOLENT EXTREMIST ATTACKS NEAR OUR STATION IN THE MACOMIA DISTRICT OF MOZAMBIQUE
According to a report in a local independent newspaper, just over a week ago, an armed group of Islamic fundamentalists killed one person and seriously injured another in the village of Nacutuco, close to Mucojo in the Macomia district. This district is a remote area in northern Mozambique, only a couple of kilometres from our station, Radio Nuru.
For the past year villages across northern Mozambique have been burnt to the ground and residents were brutally killed or injured. This is one out of hundreds of other violent incidents that is rapidly turning into a living nightmare. The brutal nature of these attacks is only adding to the widespread fear.
Initially attacks mainly occurred in the Nangande district in the province of Cabo Delgado, however during the past three weeks there has been a sharp increase in the number of attacks on villages located in the Mucojo area closer to the station. It is also an area where several listener clubs were established earlier this year.
The South African missionary couple, who is managing Radio Nuru, reports that this year was rife with violence and suffering for the local people. In addition to the large number of people who died in these attacks, hundreds of homes and harvests were burned down. Schools, churches, Mosques, clinics and shops were also burnt and if the food was not destroyed it was looted. During the past four weeks, four villages were burned down and inhabitants who failed to flee in time, were killed.
As a result of the attacks very few people even dare to go out into the fields to work and many will not plant or harvest this year. In response to this very alarming situation, we urgently call all our supporters to pray for Radio Nuru, the staff and listeners.
The South African missionaries urge, “We invite you to dedicate one to three days to prayer and fasting for our district and surrounding areas. We will be joining together with local evangelical groups in doing this. We also want to say thank you to everyone who already pray with us. There were times when anxiety almost took us over, but we quickly found shelter in God’s peace.”
