In a tragic event that shocked communities worldwide, seventy Christians were found beheaded inside a Protestant church in the village of Kasanga, located in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Suspected militants had abducted the victims from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group with ties to the Islamic State.
According to Newsweek, The abductions occurred on February 12, 2025, when ADF militants entered the village of Mayba in Lubero Territory, North Kivu.
They initially kidnapped at least 20 civilians during a pre-dawn raid and returned in the evening to seize an additional 50 individuals.
The captives were then transported to the Protestant CECA 20 church in the neighboring village of Kasanga, where they were brutally executed.
The bodies were discovered on February 14, 2025, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for action.
Open Doors UK, an organization supporting persecuted Christians, reported on the heinous act, highlighting the escalating violence faced by believers in the region.
The ADF, originally a Ugandan Islamist group, has been active in the DRC for decades, intensifying attacks in recent years.
Their operations, particularly in the North Kivu province, have led to significant loss of life and displacement of communities.
This latest massacre underscores the urgent need for international intervention to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
The global community has been urged to respond to this atrocity.
Steve Eubanks, a commentator on social media, poignantly remarked, “70 Christians beheaded in church in the Congo.
They rest now in a light we cannot imagine. The test is for the rest of us.”
As the DRC continues to grapple with such violent extremism, there is a pressing need for both national and international efforts to protect vulnerable communities and bring perpetrators to justice.
