At least 13 people including nine children have been killed after a soldier in east Democratic Republic of Congo opened fire on people gathered to mourn his deceased child, the army and a local official say.
The shooting occurred in the village of Nyakova on the banks of Lake Albert in Congo’s eastern Ituri province on Saturday night.
“The soldier opened fire on all those around him,” Ituri army spokesman Jules Ngongo said via telephone on Sunday.
“A dozen people died.”
Search teams are looking for the soldier, a member of Congo’s navy, and an investigation into the incident has been opened, he said.
Village chief Oscar Baraka Muguwa said 13 people were killed, including nine children.
It was unclear what led the soldier to begin shooting.
Muguwa said the soldier was concerned his child would be buried without him there.
CREDIT: Perth Now
