In the early hours of Sunday, Jan. 25, fighters of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed 25 villagers in a brutal attack on Apakolu, a farming community in Irumu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The rebels struck while residents were asleep, and in the pre-dawn darkness, sowed panic, grief, and devastation across the Christian farming community.

“They moved from door to door, executing civilians without mercy and burning houses,” one farmer said.

Christophe Munyanderu, a local social activist, reported that 25 people were killed during the night attack. Among them, 18 civilians were reportedly locked inside a house and executed, while seven others were shot dead on the road as they attempted to flee. Several residents remain missing, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.

One survivor, a mother of four who escaped by hiding in a nearby plantation, shared details of the attack with tears streaming down her face.

“We heard knocking, then screams,” she said. “They told us to open (the door), or they would burn the house. I held my children’s mouths so they wouldn’t cry. When the gunshots started, I thought my heart would stop. When morning came, I found my neighbors’ dead bodies lying all over. Our village is finished.”

Church leaders strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a crime against humanity and a stain on the conscience of the nation. One priest addressed mourners during a prayer gathering.

“Christians are dying in their sleep, in their homes, where they should feel safe,” the priest said. “This blood cries out to God. How long shall the innocent suffer while the world watches in silence?”

A pastor from a neighboring parish also commented on the attack.

“These were farmers, mothers, children, people with no weapons, no protection,” he said. “We bury them today with broken hearts. If there is no urgent action to protect civilians, tomorrow it will be another village, another church, another grave.”

Munyanderu condemned the attack as a serious crime and renewed his call for increased protection of civilians in Irumu territory.

As Apakolu mourns, fear and trauma grip neighboring villages. Survivors are pleading for an end to the violence and recognition of their suffering.

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