A shocking attempted kidnapping of a businessman unfolded in front of a Maputo hotel, captured in a horrifying video that displayed the brazen actions of armed suspects.
Attempted kidnapping of a Maputo businessman goes wrong
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The calm of a popular hotel area in Maputo, Mozambique, was shattered as a group of armed individuals attempted a brazen kidnapping. The target, a local businessman, found himself in a life-threatening situation as the suspects tried to force him into a silver-grey SUV.
The kidnapping attempt took an unexpected turn when passers-by intervened. Displaying remarkable bravery, these individuals pelted the kidnappers with rocks.
This courageous act provided the businessman with a crucial opportunity to resist his abductors. The intervention escalated the situation to a point where the assailants had to abort their mission, especially when the sound of police sirens became audible.
The timely arrival of local police resulted in the suspects fleeing the scene, leaving the businessman behind.
This incident is not isolated in Maputo, as the city has witnessed a disturbing trend in kidnappings. Recently, a Mozambican businessman was kidnapped in the Zimpeto neighbourhood, and a Portuguese-Mozambican woman remains captive following her abduction three weeks prior.
The police have been active, with recent arrests of kidnappers who were in possession of a list of potential victims and images of other planned abductions.
Maputo and other Mozambican cities have experienced a resurgence of kidnappings since 2020, predominantly targeting businesspeople and their families.
In response, the Prime Minister of Mozambique, Adriano Maleiane, announced the formation of a special unit dedicated to combating these kidnappings. This unit’s formation comes in the wake of 28 reported kidnapping cases since 2021, with half of them being fully resolved.