At least 70 civilians were killed according to Radio Okapi during a brutal overnight attack attributed to ADF rebels in the town of Ntoyo, 7 kilometers from Mangurejipa in Lubero territory, North Kivu.

According to local officials, the assault happened on Monday, September 8, around 10 p.m., as residents gathered for a wake. The attackers used both knives and guns, killing dozens on the spot.

Heavy Toll and Destruction

Sector chief Macaire Sovikunula reported a provisional toll of 71 dead, 8 injured, and around 20 people missing. At least 14 houses, vehicles, and motorcycles were also destroyed. Civil society leaders fear the number of victims could rise as more families search for loved ones.

Security Response

The quick intervention of joint FARDC and UPDF forces from Mangurejipa helped limit further killings, though the assailants managed to retreat into the forest west of Ntoyo. Military and administrative authorities confirmed the attack and said search operations are ongoing.

Call for Help

Local activists criticized security services for ignoring earlier warnings about rebel movements in the area. The governor’s advisor for humanitarian affairs has urged humanitarian organizations to step in and support the survivors.

For now, daily life in Ntoyo is at a standstill. Shops remain closed, families are in mourning, and the community continues to search for the missing.

This massacre is one of the deadliest ADF attacks in North Kivu this year, once again exposing the urgent need for stronger protection of civilians in eastern Congo.