At least 14 lives were tragically lost in the province of Ituri, located in the eastern region of Congo, following an assault on a church congregation.
The incident occurred on Sunday when an armed militia targeted worshipers during their prayers.
Reliable sources, including a local administrative official and a prominent civil society representative, confirmed these distressing events on Monday.
The orchestrator of the attack was identified as the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO), a faction among several engaged in the conflict-ridden eastern region.
Djugu territory’s administrator, Ruphin Mapela, and civil society leader Dieudonne Lossa concurred that CODECO was responsible for this heinous act.
Dieudonne Lossa, deeply shaken by the incident, reported, “Tragedy struck as the victims were deep in prayer, seeking solace in their devotion, only to face an unexpected barrage of gunfire from the CODECO militia.”
Regrettably, the incident resulted in the loss of 9 innocent civilians, 4 assailants, and a soldier.
Ruphin Mapela provided further details, stating that the violent attack targeted the Mesa, Cepac, and Aumopro churches, which are situated in close proximity to Lake Albert within the Bahema-Nord chiefdom.
In response to the incident, Ituri’s army spokesman, Jules Ngongo Tshikudi, appealed for calm among the population.
He assured that the armed forces were diligently pursuing the criminals responsible, with the intention of neutralizing their threat.
The CODECO group claims to be the defenders of Lendu farmers, a group engaged in prolonged conflicts with Hema herders.
Tragically, the CODECO attacks have further exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis that has been persistent in Ituri province.
An estimated 3 million individuals are now in a state of urgent need, as reported by a U.N. humanitarian agency.
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