By Our Writer
ITURI
KOMANDA, DRC
Over 21 people were killed on Sunday when suspected militants affiliated with the Islamic State group stormed a Catholic church in Komanda, a town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province.
The deadly attack targeted, Christian worshippers and near by residents according to security reports.
Local authorities and humanitarian sources said the attackers believed to be members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) opened fire during Sunday morning prayers before setting homes ablaze near the church.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror, with gunshots ripping through the sanctuary and flames engulfing the surrounding neighborhood.
According to media reports, an eye witness described the scene as devastating.
“I saw bodies on the ground, some burned beyond recognition,” said one resident who fled the scene.
“We could hear the cries of the wounded, but no one could help because the attackers were still around.”
While local leaders confirmed 21 fatalities, some government sources offered a lower figure, reflecting the difficulties in confirming casualties amid ongoing insecurity.
The ADF, a Ugandan-origin rebel group that pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2019, has intensified its operations in eastern Congo, especially in Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
The group has become notorious for brutal assaults on civilian populations, often targeting churches, schools, and health facilities.
The massacre underscores the persistent insecurity in the region, where more than 120 armed groups are active despite joint operations by the Congolese army and international forces, including the UN and regional military coalitions.
The Komanda attack adds to a growing list of atrocities that have displaced an estimated 7.8 million people nationwide — the highest number of internally displaced persons in Africa, according to humanitarian agencies.
Church leaders in Ituri have called for greater protection of civilians and houses of worship.