Prayer alert: Massacres continue in the DRC

Please join us in praying for our family in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who continue to face massacre after massacre at the hands of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an ISIS-affiliated rebel organisation.

On Monday night, September 8, ADF fighters assaulted the towns of Ntoyo and Potodu in the Beni and Lubero districts, killing at least 100 Christians over two days.

In a video shared via messaging apps, the surviving families of Ntoyo, who were gathered at a burial wake service, can be heard shrieking in grief over the umpteenth attack on their communities.

“Those who tried to flee were shot dead and others were killed with machetes”, Rev. Mbula Samaki of the 55e CEBCE church Mangurejipa said in Ntoyo.

In addition to those murdered, “at least 100 kidnapped, 16 houses, 8 motorbikes and 2 vehicles burnt. It is horrible”, Rev. Mbula added.

The following morning the terrorists struck again, this time targeting Christian farmers in Potodu.

“The ADF arrived in Potodu, some 6km from Mabasele, a neighbourhood in Oicha. With machetes, they killed Christian farmers who were camped in their farms and those who were returning”, he added.

These attacks occurred less than two months after 49 Christians were slain in the village of Komanda and just under a month after ADF attacked neighbouring communities in Beni and Lubero areas, killing over 50 people.

“May God come to our rescue because we are fed up with these killings in the Beni territory”, Pastor Paluku lamented.

“The massacres are weakening the faith of Christians. Last month it was still massacre after massacre, and in September, Lord, please come to our aid”, Rev Alli grieved.

Both Reverends shared that majority of the victims in Ntoyo were members of the Catholic church. Some burials were set for yesterday, 10 September, in various locations, while others would be held at Ntoyo in a mass grave.

Government authorities have visited the affected communities to sympathise with the residents.

“The situation is critical in the Bapère sector in Lubero territory, where Christians are being massacred by Islamic terrorists. Please, brothers and sisters, let us unite in prayer to counter the enemy. God says if He does not watch over the house, those who watch, watch in vain. Let us pray together for the Christians of the east of the DRC”, Rev. Alili pleaded.

Please pray:

• Pray for the Lord’s comfort and strength for believers in eastern DRC who have lost family members in these attacks.
• Pray for the Lord’s intervention for to end the killings.
• Pray for the safety of those planning burials for their deceased family members.
• Pray for peace as angry youth in Ntoyo are threatening to protest the government’s failure to protect them and their property.