At least 16 people were knifed to death weeks after being taken hostage in the Democratic Republic of Congo's east, in bloodletting blamed on armed Islamists, military and local sources said Tuesday.
According to local civilian sources, the victims, who included two women, had been held by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which the US says is linked to the Islamic State group.
The hostages were killed along a main highway near Idohu, in the restive Ituri province, according to local official Dieudonne Malangai.
Ituri's military governor Johnny Luboya Nkashama speaking in Komanda, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the slaughter, condemned the killings.
"We will reinforce our presence in the region," he told a meeting with local residents.
"Helicopters are already on the scene and other military personnel are on their way with trucks and munitions to assure security in the region and to organise safe convoys along this road," the governor added.
He promised to return in a month to reevaluate the situation in the area, where thousands have fled their homes to avoid the violence.
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