DRC (International Christian Concern) — The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) continue to cause death and destruction in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. On Tuesday morning, Oct. 7, they launched a deadly attack on Rizerie village, located in the Babika chiefdom within the Bapere sector of the predominantly Christian Lubero territory, North Kivu Province. 

According to local reports, the attackers arrived while people were working in a gold mining site. They killed five civilians who were actively mining gold at the time. 

“The people who were killed were just trying to work so they could earn a living,” said a local source who witnessed the aftermath. “They woke up early that morning, hoping to provide for their families. Then the rebels came out of nowhere and brutally ended their lives. It was horrifying — gunshots, screaming, and people running in every direction. Those men didn’t deserve to die like that.” 

After the attack in Rizerie, the assailants moved toward the nearby village of Robinet, where they encountered the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) stationed in their barracks. Heavy gunfire was reported, though the outcome of the clash remains unclear. Residents nearby said the fighting sent waves of panic through the area as families fled into the forest for safety. 

Kagheni Samuel, one of the leaders of the Bapere civil society, confirmed the attack and expressed deep concern. He urged the country’s security forces to act quickly and decisively. 

“We call on the security services to act without delay,” Kagheni said. “They must pursue the enemy until they are completely wiped out, even in their deepest hiding places. The population is tired and broken. We have buried too many of our people already. We cannot continue to live in fear in our own villages. Every time we hear a gunshot, we think it’s another massacre.” 

Currently, the death toll remains provisional. Local reports aired on a radio station in Butembo warned that there might be more victims yet to be discovered, as some families are still searching for missing relatives who may have fled into the bush. 

The population of the area remains in shock and fear as armed groups continue to destabilize the region, destroying livelihoods and forcing families to abandon their homes in search of safety. 

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