By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Over 70 Killed as Suspected Rebels Attack Funeral in Eastern DRC
At least 70 people were killed in an overnight attack on a funeral in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) suspected to be behind the incident, local media reported.
The attack occurred around midnight on Monday in Ntoyo village, Lubero territory, in North Kivu Province. Parish priest Paluku Nzalamingi, who visited the scene on Tuesday, told news outlet Actualite.cd that nearly everyone present at the funeral was killed.
“They killed almost everyone who was gathered at the funeral home. Many were shot dead. Bodies are on the road and in nearby plots. I haven’t been able to count them all, but it is more than 70 people,” Nzalamingi said.
A local leader, Mwami Eugene Viringa, also told the outlet that the death toll could exceed 70, while another resident involved in body recovery claimed more than 100 people were killed.
The figures reported by local sources have not been confirmed by administrative or security authorities, and Anadolu Agency said it could not independently verify the toll.
The ADF, originally formed in Uganda, has expanded its operations into eastern Congo, where it has carried out repeated attacks against civilians and security forces. The group has taken advantage of instability in the region to entrench its presence in North Kivu.
Violence linked to the ADF has intensified in recent years, contributing to a worsening humanitarian crisis in the eastern provinces of the country.
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