At least 10 people including seven women were killed and several others were kidnapped during a raid on a village in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The attack occurred in the town of Kokola, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the city of Beni in North Kivu province.
The killings and kidnappings come barely a week since the Congolese army launched an offensive in the eastern region where the Islamic State-affiliated terror organization has been actively setting up camps.
The rebels also stole livestock including goats and chickens during the raid, which took place around 8 p.m. local time. The army in the region maintained that the militants attacked the civilian population in the town as a result of pressure put on them in the forest and encampments.
The attacks by ADF fighters have become regular with the mode of attack being crude weapons and firearms that are accompanied by looting of farms, livestock, shops as well as hospitals for medical supplies.
ADF which is a huge component of the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) alongside the al Shabaab in Mozambique has been reportedly training fighters both in DRC as well as sending others to Cabo Delgado in Mozambique. The group has stirred a large security threat that may spill over to other Great Lakes countries if not stymied especially seeing as very little intelligence is available on the extent of its presence owing to the lack of an active media department.
