In a horrific attack, 70 Christians were discovered beheaded inside a Protestant church in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu Province. The victims had been kidnapped by suspected militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist group with ties to the Islamic State.
The massacre of 70 Christians took place in the town of Kasanga, in the Lubero Territory, towards the end of last week.
Local sources suspect the ADF, known for its brutal tactics, is responsible for the atrocity. The victims were reportedly taken hostage on February 12 and later found decapitated inside the church. The incident has left the community in shock, with many Christians fleeing the area for safety.
The international community has condemned the attack, calling for urgent intervention to protect the vulnerable population in the region. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on bringing those responsible to justice and supporting the affected families.
Field sources report that, until yesterday (Tuesday 18 February), some families had not been able to bury their dead because of insecurity in the area. Many Christians have now fled the area for their safety.
“We don’t know what to do or how to pray; we’ve had enough of massacres,” says an elder of the CECA20 church. “May God’s will alone be done.”
This latest awful incident is a continuation of the escalating threat posed by ADF militants in the country’s northeast region. In 2014, the group intensified attacks in Beni territory in North Kivu province. Since then attacks have spread to the territories of Irumu and Mambasa in Ituri province, and now it’s affecting Lubero. In the last month alone, the group have killed more than 200 people in Baswagha chiefdom, according to a local news website.
