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False ISCAP alarm turns deadly in Niania, Ituri
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Unrest linked to a false ISCAP (ADF) alarm left one civilian dead and three wounded in Niania trading centre, about 360 km from Bunia.
On 4 April 2026, a false alarm of an imminent ISCAP (ADF) attack triggered violent disturbances in the trading centre of Niania, about 360 km from Bunia in Ituri Province. One civilian was killed and three others were wounded.
The incident shows how fear of ISCAP now travels faster than the group itself. In trading centres along Ituri’s main roads, rumours alone can set off panic, mob violence and the collapse of daily commerce.
EWRAC assesses that communities along the RN4 and its feeder roads remain highly sensitive to rumours of attack. Reliable local alert systems and rapid, credible communication from authorities are needed to stop false alarms from causing casualties.
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