Kinshasa:  More than 80 people have been killed in a series of brutal attacks in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), after fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group affiliated with the Islamic State, launched assaults on civilians attending a funeral wake and on surrounding villages in North Kivu province.

The deadliest incident occurred overnight on 8–9 September in the village of Ntoyo, Lubero territory, where dozens of residents had gathered for a funeral. Witnesses reported that the attackers stormed the wake around 9:00 p.m., forcing people to gather before killing them with machetes and light firearms. Several homes and vehicles were also set ablaze. At least 71 people were confirmed dead in Ntoyo, many of them mutilated or beheaded.

In a separate attack in Beni territory, also in North Kivu, the rebels killed at least 18 more civilians, raising the total death toll from the coordinated assaults to nearly 89. Local officials fear the numbers may rise further as more bodies are recovered from the surrounding forests.

The ADF, which originated in Uganda and has operated in eastern Congo for decades, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019 and has since intensified its assaults on civilians. The group is notorious for its extreme brutality, often targeting Christian communities during religious events. Earlier this year, the ADF carried out similar massacres in Ituri province and attacked Catholic worshippers in Komanda, killing dozens, including children.

Authorities in North Kivu said security forces have been dispatched to the affected areas to secure villages and assist survivors. Humanitarian organizations have called for urgent aid, warning of mass displacement as families flee the violence. The Catholic Church and other religious leaders expressed deep sorrow over the killings, urging the government and international community to take stronger action to protect civilians.

The United Nations and human rights groups have also condemned the attacks, raising concerns about potential war crimes and the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region. With the Congolese army stretched thin by multiple conflicts, including ongoing clashes with the M23 rebel group, many fear that civilians will remain vulnerable to further massacres unless broader regional cooperation is achieved.

The massacre in Ntoyo underscores the persistent insecurity in eastern Congo, where dozens of armed groups continue to operate despite years of military campaigns and international peacekeeping efforts.