The military governor of Ituri province in eastern Congo has condemned the killing of 16 people taken hostage by suspected Islamists.
Johnny Luboya Nkashama said the army was sending reinforcements to boost security.
He told a public meeting the objective was to allow people to return to their homes that they had fled because of violence in the region.
Local reports say the 16 victims, knifed to death on a highway near the town of Idohu, were held by members of the Allied Democratic Forces, which the US says is linked to the Islamic State group.
