Two assailants on military office burned alive in Congo
Baku-APA. Local officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say two men who had attacked a military office have been burned alive by civilians, APA reports quoting Press TV.
The incident, which took place in the town of Beni, situated about 250 kilometers north of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, followed an attack on the military prosecutor’s office by unknown gunmen.
“The military prosecutor’s offices were attacked at around 9:00 pm [local time] by men whose identities are not yet clear,” Beni’s mayor Bwanakawa Nyonyi, said Saturday, adding that the attackers were driven back by the army.
According to the mayor, two of the assailants were found by locals early Saturday and “were burnt alive while three others are in the hands of the army.”
Meanwhile, a military spokesman confirmed the attack on the office but did not give details of the incident.
Beni has been hit by violence and deteriorating security over the past two decades.
On Friday, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called for humanitarian access to the Beni area amid a worsening security and human rights situation for the civilian population.
“Multiple attacks over the last three months have caused widespread fear and displacement [in this area]. We are appealing for humanitarian access to help people in distress,” said UNHCR spokesman, Adrian Edwards.
The UN official said at least 256 people, including children, have reportedly been killed in machete and axe attacks since October, adding that new massacres by armed groups are reported every week.
The violence within Beni and the surrounding area have left around 88,000 people displaced, reports say.