BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo – A t least 14 individuals have been killed within the japanese Congolese province of Ituri on Sunday, after militia attacked worshippers praying in a church, an area official and a civil society chief mentioned on Monday.
The Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) group, certainly one of many militias working within the conflict-ridden east, was behind the assault, mentioned Djugu territory administrator Ruphin Mapela and civil society chief Dieudonne Lossa.
“The victims were praying to the Lord, but unfortunately militiamen identified as CODECO opened fire on them,” Lossa mentioned.
Both mentioned that 9 civilians, 4 assailants and a soldier have been killed.
Mapela mentioned that militants attacked Mesa, Cepac and Aumopro church buildings situated close to the shore of Lake Albert within the Bahema-Nord chiefdom.
“We call on the population to remain calm as the armed forces pursue these criminals to put them out of action,” Ituri military spokesman Jules Ngongo Tshikudi mentioned.
CODECO claims to defend the pursuits of Lendu farmers, who’ve lengthy been in battle with Hema herders.
The CODECO raids have worsened a longstanding humanitarian disaster in Ituri province, the place some 3 million persons are in determined want of help, in line with a U.N. humanitarian company. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
