Militiamen kill 40 policemen in DRC

By Godfrey Olukya

ARU, Democratic Republic of Congo (AA) - At least 40 policemen have been killed on Saturday by Kamuina Nsapu militiamen in central Democratic Republic of Congo.

They were reportedly ambushed as they traveled in several vehicles from Tshikapa town to Kananga town.

Senior security officer in central DRC, Ambrose Muwasa told Anadolu Agency that the militiamen killed the policemen and only spared those who spoke their language.

Muwasa said: ''They ambushed the policemen as they traveled from Tshikapa to Kananga. After capturing them, they started killing them and only spared six who spoke Tshiluba language''.

The militiamen later took off with the vehicles and guns belonging to the police.

The militiamen are followers of the late local chief called Kamuina Nsapu who was killed in August 2016 by policemen when he attacked them after convincing his followers that it was time to do away with Kinshasa government and establish their own state.

Last month Kamuina Nsapu militiamen attacked the police and the police and army responded with fierce force killing dozens of them, an act human rights organization have bitterly condemned saying excess force was used.

Several mass graves, suspected to be containing bodies of militiamen killed by police have been discovered by local and international human rights organizations and are being investigated.