According to the Barnabas Fund, the Allied Democratic Forces, an organization that aligns itself with the Islamic State terrorist group, raided five villages in North Kivu province, northeastern DRC, between Nov. 20 and Dec. 3.

Jihadis armed with guns, machetes, clubs, swords and axes reportedly surrounded churches in each of the five villages. Local authorities confirmed reports that the terrorists targeted Christians, killing those who refused to convert to Islam.

At least fifteen people were abducted from two churches, while fourteen other Christians were transported to a hospital and reported as being in critical condition and suffering from severe injuries.

One Christian survivor witnessed the murder of his wife and three children as he hid in a bathroom. In another village, a pastor lost all five members of his family who were slaughtered after they refused to convert to Islam. 

“They also tried to force my wife and our four children to convert to Islam, but when they refused to convert, they shot my wife in the head while our four children were cut into pieces with a sword,” the pastor said.

Led by Musa Baluku, the ADF has become the DRC’s most active and violent terrorist group over the past two years. The group is known for committing crimes such as murder, rape, and abduction of women and children, as well as slavery and indoctrination.

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