The violent incident that resulted in the death of the Local Force commander in Ancuabe district, in the town of Metoro, is one of the clearest illustrations of the profound weaknesses in the security model currently adopted by the Mozambican State in the northern region of the country.
The commander was lynched by members of the community in broad daylight, and his body was set on fire in an episode of extreme violence that unfolded in the presence of officers of the Mozambican Police (PRM), who were unable to contain the crowd or guarantee the physical safety of the victim.
According to the Moz24h portal, based in Cabo Delgado, the incident originated from a dispute involving a motorbike allegedly confiscated by the Local Force commander during a security operation. Instead of being handed over to State authorities, the vehicle was subsequently used for private purposes and was recognised by its supposed owners while circulating in the town of Metoro. The situation escalated rapidly, with verbal confrontations, physical assaults and gunfire, which reportedly injured at least three civilians — all of them motorcycle taxi operators .
Hours later, around fifty men from the commander’s home village reportedly travelled to Metoro armed with traditional weapons, in what appeared to be an attempted retaliation, creating a climate of widespread fear and an imminent risk of inter-communal clashes.
The Metoro case is not an isolated event but rather a symptom of structural problems related to the creation, legalisation and operation of the Local Force.
