Islamist terror attack sees 5 dead and ‘many kidnapped’ as buildings burnt down

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An attack by an Islamist military group has left at least five people dead, with 'many others kidnapped'.

Witnesses say that those carrying out the attack also set fire to a health centre and six residential houses.

The incident occurred today in the Beni region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with reports suggesting it was carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group.

The ADF is part of the arm of Islamic State that operates in central Africa. They are known to exist in both the DRC and Uganda, with the Ugandan government categorising them as a terrorist organisation.

According to Moise Kiputulu, the coordinator of the Beni region, the ADF gunmen attacked civilians during the night.

Kiputulu didn't give an exact number of people killed but Promesse Matofali Yonama, deputy leader of the Together for Change social group, has since tweeted with some details.

He said: "The cutthroats massacred more than 5 people & kidnapped others!

"They set fire to 1 health center, 6 residential houses."

Kiputulu did confirm in a statement that authorities are still hunting for those responsible.

He said: "It was around 11pm that the assailants appeared and operated until the early hours of the morning.

"They set fire to residential houses including the Kyalumba referral health center in the Kyondo health zone.

"Human damage, dead people and others taken hostage."

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