A soldier and a police officer from the Democratic Republic of Congo were beheaded on Wednesday, July 16, in Nvunayi Sector, Kabinda Territory (Lomami Province).
The root cause of the incident was land-related conflicts between two local ethnic groups known as Belande Ngoya and Bakoji Mualaba.
Eyewitnesses reported intense fighting between residents of Kapamba and Nkuanga villages.
The Administrator of Kabinda Territory, Gédéon Ngoyi, explained that the escalation of the situation was triggered by kidnappings between the two villages.
He told ACTUALITE.CD:
“A mother and her children from the Kapamba area were stopped by residents of Nkuanga. The mother was released around noon. But a few hours later, a woman from Nkuanga was also abducted by residents of Kapamba. She is still missing.”
The subsequent violence led to the death of both security personnel, under unclear circumstances, as the article further notes.
The local authorities described the attackers as “criminals.”
They added:
“We still do not know the exact reason and circumstances under which these (security) personnel were there. Their deaths were not officially announced and remain shrouded in mystery.”
