Ten civilians were killed in a midnight attack by the CODECO militia in Ituri province, eastern Congo.
Local authorities reported that the attack occurred in Djugu territory, where most residents belong to the Hema community. Fighters entered the village at midnight, killing ten people across two households.
The CODECO militia, one of many armed groups in the region, has been accused by the United Nations of war crimes. Previous attacks have targeted communities like the Hema herders.
Some of the victims were beheaded, and others’ bodies were mutilated, said Jean Marie Mateso, head of the local administration. The killings happened near a Congolese military position.
“There is strong frustration as rumors spread that other villages could be attacked,” Mateso added.
Jules Tsuba, a local civil society leader, confirmed that by Tuesday morning, the victims’ bodies were still lying in the village.
The CODECO militia is one of several groups involved in ongoing conflicts over land and resources in the region.
