by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Islamic terrorists in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday slaughtered 11 Christians, abducted several others, and burned down homes in Ndimo village, Ituri province, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
The May 13 massacre was carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic rebel group that was originally based in western Uganda but which has extended operations into the neighboring DRC. Aligned with Islamic State, the ADF is intent on imposing Sharia law on territories it dominates.
In a statement to ICC, a resident of Ndimo said the terrorists had burned people to death and rendered others homeless during the devastating assault. “This horrific attack has left a trail of devastation and despair, with the loss of life and destruction of property reaching catastrophic proportions,” the resident said.
“The ruthless and barbaric actions of the ADF rebels have plunged our once peaceful village into a state of fear, leaving us traumatized and vulnerable,” the resident continued. “The scale of the atrocities committed by the ADF rebels in Ndimo is beyond comprehension, as more than five families mourn their loved ones and struggle to come to terms with the senseless violence that has shattered our community.”
While the main religion in DRC is Christianity, believers are violently persecuted by Islamic terrorists such as the ADF. “Christians who live in the eastern part of the DRC are at incredible risk,” the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization reports in a website statement. “The region is home to more than 100 armed groups, some of whom specifically target followers of Jesus. This leaves Christians and churches in this part of the country vulnerable to attacks, including murder, abduction, and sexual violence.”
DRC ranks 41 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.