Goma and its security crisis: four individuals, including a young videographer, lost their lives in under 48 hours.

Unidentified armed bandits opened fire at close range on a young man named Dieumerci Batenga, also known as DM Black, on the evening of Friday, June 27, while he was walking home with two friends. Witnesses reported that the unfortunate individual was returning from a publishing house that serves as a popular site for downloading movies and music in the Mikeno neighborhood, which is situated near the Goma city hall.

The victim was fatally shot, and his two friends, Ali and Bienfait, were also injured and taken to the hospital. Tragically, Ali did not survive his injuries, resulting in a total of two fatalities that evening.

The individuals responsible for this dreadful act managed to flee and remain unidentified. Dieumerci Batenga was an up-and-coming video artist in Goma’s audiovisual scene, recognized for his music videos and collaborations with local talents. His murder has caused significant distress within the city’s artistic community. Many social media users have voiced their outrage regarding the escalating insecurity in the area.

This shooting follows a series of violent events that have plagued Goma this week. Just the day before, on Thursday, June 26, a female money changer was killed by armed bandits around 6 p.m. in the Majengo neighborhood. Witnesses stated that the assailants arrived on motorcycles near the local market, known as “Ki30,” and executed their target without hesitation.

Additionally, witnesses reported another shooting that took place on Wednesday, June 25, in the Kyeshero neighborhood of Goma, along the infamous Kwakingamba road. One person was killed, and another was seriously injured. The injured individual, identified as Lumoo Timothée, was shot and rushed to the hospital. The identity of the other victim, who was killed in this incident, has not yet been confirmed.

The rise in shooting incidents is becoming increasingly alarming.