Goma (Congo), February 11 (HS): At least 55 civilians lost their lives in an attack by an armed group in Ituri province of eastern Congo. This attack took place specifically on a village of displaced people, where many houses were burnt down. Local officials have feared that the death toll may increase as relief and rescue operations are still going on.
According to the information, this attack took place on Monday night in Jaiba village, where fighters of an armed organization called CODECO attacked. This organization is said to be related to the Lendu community. According to the African Terrorism Research Center, thousands of people have been killed in the attacks of this group till 2022.
The United Nations has termed this type of violence as a war crime and crime against humanity. According to local officials, UN peacekeepers and Congolese government forces attempted to bring the situation under control, but were unable to effectively stop the attackers due to their large number.
Eyewitnesses to the attack reported that the attackers attacked people with axes and guns. The region has been hit by violence before, and such attacks have increased in recent months.
Experts believe that the main reason for the conflict between more than 120 armed groups active in Congo is the competition for control over land and precious minerals. This attack has once again exposed the deteriorating security situation in the eastern part of Congo.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
