Regrettably, there has been a devastating event where militants who are linked to the Islamic State undertook a terrorist act on a school situated close to the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Authorities from Ugandan police confirmed that this cruel act caused the loss of 25 lives. The assailants, believed to be members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan group operating in eastern Congo and allied with ISIS, targeted Lhubirira secondary school in Mpondwe. They set fire to a dormitory and looted food during the late hours of Friday.
Ugandan police took to Twitter to report the grim situation, stating that 25 bodies had been recovered from the school and transferred to Bwera Hospital. Additionally, eight victims, in critical condition victims were receiving treatment at the same hospital. Unfortunately, specific details regarding the number of school children among the deceased were not provided.
Authorities have launched a pursuit of the attackers who fled towards the Virunga National Park in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. This incident follows a previous attack in April, where the ADF targeted a village in eastern Congo, losing at least 20 lives.
Uganda has deployed its troops into Congo to combat the ADF to support the ongoing efforts against the group. Unfortunately, the recent attack on the learning institution has served as another reminder of how lethal extremist outfits still threaten public safety in those parts. It emphasizes how paramount it is for multiple stakeholders to collaborate decisively to create safer conditions for communities impacted by extreme brutality. Law enforcement agencies have pledged unyielding support towards bringing all responsible parties accountable under strict legal consequences while proactively devising strategies against notorious terrorist risks.