Tchomia, a peaceful region of Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, found itself plunged into horror this Sunday, July 23. A brutal massacre took place, where about ten civilians, mainly women and children, were killed by a member of the regular army.
The shots rang out in the village of Nyakova, located in the Tchomia groupement, in the middle of the night. Panic quickly spread throughout the region. According to the first information collected on the spot, a soldier, animated by anger, opened fire at point-blank range on innocent people.
This horrific act of violence stems from this soldier’s frustration with his in-laws, who arranged his child’s funeral in his absence. Her son having died on July 20, he was buried a day later. This absence at the funeral angered the soldier, turning the ceremony into a bloodbath.
At present, the death toll stands at twelve civilians, including nine children, but other sources mention thirteen victims. The injured were transported to a medical facility to receive first aid.
The Congolese army announces that it is looking for this soldier responsible for the massacre. She strongly condemns this heinous act and ensures that once stopped, it will be punished. Discipline remains the mother of armies, says Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, spokesperson for military operations in Ituri.
This tragic event highlights the need to maintain rigorous discipline within the Congolese army. No human being should have the right to take the life of another, regardless of the situation.
The population of Tchomia is plunged into mourning, and the authorities are actively working to find the perpetrator of this massacre and bring him to justice. In the meantime, the families of the victims mourn their loved ones and hope that this tragedy will not happen again in the future.
This sad event also highlights the need for continued human rights awareness and better training for soldiers. The authorities must ensure that such acts of violence do not occur again, in order to guarantee the security and stability of the Ituri region and of the entire Democratic Republic of the Congo