A horrifying incident unfolded in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as a soldier unleashed a deadly attack on family members and community members who had gathered to mourn the soldier’s son. The tragic incident occurred in the village of Nyakova on the banks of Lake Albert in the province of Ituri, leaving 13 people dead, including the soldier’s wife, in-laws, and two of his children, according to officials.
Late on Saturday, the unidentified soldier opened fire on those present at the ceremony, resulting in the loss of eight young lives among the victims. The soldier had returned home from his posting at another village in the province only to find his family and community members gathered to mourn his son’s passing, who had died of natural causes on Thursday.
Local village chief Baraka Muguwa Oscar revealed that the soldier was deeply upset that his son had been buried without his consent and in his absence, triggering the deadly rampage.
In the wake of the shocking attack, search teams comprising members of the Congolese military have been dispatched to apprehend the soldier, who fled the scene following the violent outburst.
Regardless of the circumstances, the spokesperson for the army in Ituri province, Lt Jules Ngongo, emphasised that taking a person’s life is unacceptable, and such indiscipline will be dealt with by the courts. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, as family members and neighbours grapple with the loss of their loved ones.
