At Least 14 Killed In Church Attack In Congo, Official Says

At Least 14 Killed In Church Attack In Congo, Official Says

At least 14 people were killed in the eastern #Congolese province of Ituri on Sunday, after militia attacked worshippers praying in a church, a local official and a civil society leader said on Monday.

The Cooperative for the Development of the #Congo (#CODECO) terror group, one of many militias operating in the conflict-ridden east, was behind the attack, said Djugu territory administrator Ruphin Mapela and civil society leader Dieudonne Lossa.

“The victims were praying to the Lord, but unfortunately militiamen identified as CODECO opened fire on them,” Lossa said.

Both said that 9 civilians, 4 assailants and a soldier were killed.

Mapela said that terror group attacked Mesa, Cepac and Aumopro churches located near the shore of Lake Albert in 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 army spokesman Jules Ngongo Tshikudi said.