Local militia killed at least 63 people at a displaced persons’ camp in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), local media reports quoting a humanitarian group as saying.
The killings reportedly happened between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at the Savo camp near Bule in Ituri province of DRC.
Civil society groups and witnesses said the dead include children and women.
40 people were also wounded in the attack with an unknown number reported missing, meaning the tally of the dead and injured could rise.
The government is yet to comment on the attack.
According to local media sources, the killers are suspected to be from COCECO, a militia group responsible for several massacres in the region.
The Ituri army spokesman, Jules Ngongo, also confirmed the attack, Ripples Nigeria news agency reported.
He however claimed that 20 people were killed in the attack, the outlet added.
According to the local media, the President of the humanitarian group for the Bahema-North area, Charite Banza Bavi, told journalists that 40 people were seriously injured in the attack.
He said: “Two students at a school supported by the Norwegian Refugees Commission were among the dead. The assailants used both guns and machetes.”
CODECO is one of the militia groups operating in eastern Congo amid longstanding tensions over land and resources.
(With inputs from agencies)
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