ISIS fanatics mauled and eaten by LIONS during battle over gas reserves in Mozambique

Islamic State insurgents in Mozambique were beaten to death and eaten by wild lions while fighting pro-government forces over multi-billion dollar gas reserves.

The ISIS-affiliated jihadists – dubbed ISIS-Mozambique by the US – were attacked and killed by wild animals, including lions and crocodiles, while hiding from a military operation following attacks on villages in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province.

The terrorists killed people and burned their homes in the attacks.

Mozambican troops said they had captured four jihadists involved in recruiting and radicalizing people and said 16 more had died.

Local police commander Bernardino Rafael said some died after being hit by gunfire, but others were attacked by snakes, buffalo, lions and crocodiles.

At least 24 countries have sent soldiers to help Mozambique, including Rwanda, which has an army involved in peacekeeping operations. Pictured: A woman walks past Rwanda army patrol cars in MocÍmboa da Praia, Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique, on Tuesday

“Some of them died after being hit by bullets from our troops and others as a result of attacks from animals such as snakes, buffalo, lions and even crocodiles,” he told residents. The times reports.

On Wednesday, he met residents of the Quissanga district in the southern African nation’s Cabo Delgado province.

‘They die from gunshot wounds…Many of them’ [were] wounded by our weapons. But even animals also contribute to the deaths of Islamic insurgents,” he added BBC World Africa.

He said the population buried some of the dead jihadists – under the supervision of the authorities – who had succumbed to recent and previous injuries, while some had been devoured by the animals.

Violence in Cabo Delgado has escalated since 2017 over their billion-dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) reserves, the third largest on the continent.

Several Western companies have made some of the largest investments in Africa, worth billions, to exploit these reserves. These include a $20 billion project from French company Total Energies. But the project was halted in March last year after a raid on the coastal city of Palma.

A Rwandan soldier patrols MocÍmboa da Praia, Cabo Delgado . province

Rwanda sent in 1,000 troops for the first time in July 2021, driving insurgents from key areas in just three weeks. Pictured: A Rwandan soldier watches fishermen as they return to shore in MocÍmboa da Praia

The EU has also said it will increase its support for an African military mission to reduce dependence on Russian gas.

At least 24 countries have sent soldiers to help Mozambique, including Rwanda, which has an army involved in peacekeeping operations.

Rwanda first sent 1,000 troops in July 2021 and cleared insurgents from key areas in just three weeks, according to BBC World Africa.

The death toll in Cabo Delgado has already surpassed 4,000 and about 950,000 people have been displaced from their homes. The province bordering Tanzania is the only Muslim-majority area of ​​Mozambique and is a heavily neglected area.