At least 64 people, some of whom were attending a funeral service at a Catholic church in Ntoyo, Democratic Republic of Congo, were killed in an attack by Islamic extremists, Aleteia.org reported.
The attack in North Kivu province is believed to have been carried out by fighters from the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) group.
The armed fighters attacked a funeral ceremony, killing dozens. Some of the victims were killed with machetes. “The victims were caught off guard at a mourning ceremony“, told “Reuters” local representative.
The ADF fighters then set houses and cars on fire in the village, adding to the death toll. The fact that only certain homes were set on fire suggests that the attack was premeditated.
The ADF has been particularly active in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in recent months. The ADF has been particularly active in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in recent months“These targeted attacks on defenceless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but also in violation of all standards of human rights and international humanitarian law“, the UN said.
The ADF was founded in Uganda in 1995 by Islamic fundamentalist Jamil Mukulu. Mukulu has been on trial in Uganda for crimes against humanity since 2015 and was sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo.