A brutal militia attack in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed at least 51 lives, according to local and humanitarian sources.

The assault, carried out by the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) militia, targeted displaced civilians in three villages within Ituri province on Monday.

CODECO, originally an agricultural cooperative, evolved into an armed rebel group engaged in ethnic conflicts with the Hema community. The latest attack believed to be in retaliation for a recent strike by the Zaire militia—a group representing the Hema—resulted in widespread devastation.

Community leader Jules Tsuba confirmed the death toll but warned that the number could rise as search operations continue. "So far, 43 huts have been burned, and some victims perished inside their homes," he stated, adding that dozens of people were injured. The attack occurred about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Bunia, the capital of Ituri province.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC attempted to intervene but was unable to prevent the massacre, humanitarian sources reported. However, when contacted for comment, the mission declined to respond.

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Ituri province, known for its rich gold reserves, has long been plagued by ethnic violence. Between 1999 and 2003, clashes between militias resulted in thousands of deaths before a European military intervention restored relative stability.

However, since 2017, the conflict between CODECO and the Zaire militia has reignited, leading to mass killings and widespread displacement of civilians.