BUNIA: A Congolese soldier unleashed a horrific act of violence, shooting dead at least 13 civilians, the majority of them children, in a village located in the conflict-ridden northeast region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The tragic incident took place in Nyakova, a fishing village in Djugu territory, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) east of Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, known for its frequent outbreaks of violence.
According to accounts gathered by AFP, the naval serviceman arrived in Nyakova to find that his child had been buried in his absence on the day before his arrival. Devastated by the news, the soldier opened fire on civilians who had gathered for mourning on Saturday evening, citing the reason for the killings as his anguish over not being informed about his child’s death and burial.
DR Congo Army Confirms the Incident
Army spokesman Lieutenant Jules Ngongo confirmed the disturbing event, stating that the soldier had been stationed in Gobu, 55 kilometers away, and had come to Nyakova after learning about his child’s passing. He fired at the civilians present at the mourning site, including his own two children, resulting in a death toll of 13. The soldier is currently on the run and is wanted for trial in connection with the heinous act.
The Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a reputable conflict monitoring organization, corroborated the details of the tragedy. The death toll included ten children and two women who were reportedly attending the funeral of the soldier’s son, who had died in his absence.
Bahati Franck, the leader of a local youth association, recounted the heartbreaking aftermath, revealing that 13 people were killed at close range, including nine children who lost their lives on the spot. A fourteenth victim succumbed to injuries on Sunday morning.
The region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has long been plagued by armed groups, a legacy of the regional wars that erupted in the 1990s and 2000s. The incident in Nyakova is a stark reminder of the ongoing violence and instability that continues to afflict the area, leaving innocent civilians vulnerable to tragic and senseless acts of violence.
