Maputo Kidnapping – The Inside Story

The kidnapping and murder of a Mozambican Muslim teenager identified as Ahmed near the City of Beira in Mozambique has sent shockwaves across the country.

Well known scholar and community leader in Mozambique, Moulana Nazir Loonat told Radio Islam the kidnappers sent a video of Ahmed pleading to his parents to pay the ransom of $ 30,000 demanded by the kidnappers for his safe return.

Ml. Loonat said it might be a case of mistaken identity as Ahmed’s cousin’s parents are more affluent.

“The parents were ready to pay after asking people for help. The only mistake which the parents made was that they (spoke) to the big director of investigation of police, ‘that we are going to this place and we are going to give the money’, said Ml. Loonat.

Ahmed’s father, Rashid scurried to arrange the money but apparently he was too late. He received a phone call from the alleged kidnappers who told him that he had missed the deadline and gave him directions to the scene where he could pick up the body of Ahmed.

“After a few minutes they had received a call (kidnappers informing parents) that because you have contacted the police, so now forget about your son.” added Ml. Loonat.

Ahmed’s body was found in a dumpster 3km out of Beira. He was severely tortured, burnt and his limbs were severed.

Ml. Loonat said the death of Ahmed made headlines across the country.

He says Ahmed’s mother who is a well-known Portuguese linguist said she was not going to shed a single tear because the horrible act transpired when they informed the police.

“So it means that the state is involved in this and we cannot trust anyone and we are very shocked as this never happened in Samora Machel’s time…it means the state is corrupt,” said Ml. Loonat.

Ml. Loonat said the death of Ahmed has created an alarming situation not only for Muslims but other people as well. He says they are embarking on a demonstration in the capital cities of Mozambique to make their voices heard about the kidnapping.

ML. Loonat explained that Mozambique did not have a crime problem before, but in the last two years the situation has metamorped and become very bad.

“The rich people have left the country; they only come to check their businesses…We as leaders of the Islamic community have talked to the president… ‘Show me one case that you people have solved. What you people have (caught) is small fish and that won’t solve the problem’ and there is no answer from their side,” said Ml. Loonat.  

Ml. Loonat alleges that high ranked police are involved in the kidnappings as the commander of the chief of police is nominated by the president and not by the Minister of Home Affairs. “Problem is that the Minister of Home Affairs is a good person but it seems like he hasn’t got power.”

“If we don’t have the collaboration from the police, we cannot do anything,” said Ml.Loonat

There are reports that one lady managed to escape the kidnappers and when she ran to the police station for help, she saw one of the kidnappers working at the police station.

A close family member of Ml. Loonat, a 24 year old woman was also kidnapped eight days ago. Unfortunately he says the ransom demanded by the kidnappers ran into millions of rands which they find impossible to gather.

Ml. Loonat told Radio Islam that the Pakistani and Indian foreign nationals who are also Muslim and residents of Beira are allegedly behind the kidnappings.

He said that kidnappings in Beira differs from those of Maputo in a sense that in Maputo there are more high ranking officials in government that are involved. These high ranking officials Ml. Loonat says have more affiliates that are in banking and other institutions that can provide information such as bank balances, property registration details and values of assets.

Ml. Loonat also stated that the ransom amount demanded in Beira is substantially less than in Maputo. However he maintained that the kidnappers are very amateurish and spend copious amounts of time on the phone negotiating with the victim’s parents.

Media coverage regarding the kidnapping has been slim in South Africa, internationally and in Mozambique and Ml. Loonat stresses that in Mozambique; the media is controlled by the government.

“Or either controlled by the people linked to the government because when the government sees one newspaper which is talking very much against the government, or its leaders they buy out the newspaper.”

Ml. Loonat has requested that the ummah make dua that they can overcome these problems that is not only affecting Muslims but all people in Mozambique.