Bunia, January 23rd, 2023 (CPA) – Twenty-five people held hostage by ADF terrorists in the territory of Mambasa, in Ituri, were released on Saturday by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), the CPA learnt from police sources.
« I confirm the release of twenty-five hostages since yesterday. There were twenty-four at midday, and in the evening there was another one who was released, » Senior Superintendent Jean-Baptiste Matadi, police administrator of the territory, told the CPA on Sunday.
« During these rescue operations, which took place in the Masiliko locality, 25 km from Mambasa-centre on the RN4, Mambasa-Komanda axis, the loyalist forces neutralised several ADF elements and recovered weapons of war, » he said.
The military administrator of Mambasa added that these former hostages, mainly farmers, were in the hands of ADF terrorists from Wednesday, January 18th to Friday 20th, 2023, before loyalist forces intervened to free them.
The FARDC elements, he added, are continuing in-depth operations, « with the aim of completely clearing this area and thus allowing, on the one hand, the farmers to carry out their farming activities in peace, and on the other hand, to further strengthen security on the RN4 for the benefit of its users.
ACP/
