At least 25 people were killed in an attack by an ISIS-linked armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a local rights group said on Sunday.
The pre-dawn assault targeted several villages in Ituri province, catching residents in their homes and plunging the area into shock.
According to the group, 15 men were burned alive inside a house, turning what should have been a place of safety into a scene of horror.
Seven others were shot dead in the village of Apakulu, in Irumu territory, as gunfire rang out across nearby homes and farmland.
Another three people were killed in the neighbouring area of Walese Vonkutu, pushing the death toll higher and spreading fear across the region.
The attackers were identified as members of the Allied Democratic Forces, an armed group aligned with ISIS.
Eastern Congo has long been plagued by militia violence, with civilians frequently paying the highest price.
Local activists said many residents fled into surrounding forests after the attack, escaping with little more than the clothes they were wearing.