Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from BBC Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
BBC Amharic – Nine people killed by militants in Arsi Zone of Oromia Region according to victims’ family members
November 29, 2024
On Thursday, militants took nine people out of their homes and killed them in Shirka Woreda of Arsi Zone in Oromia Region, according to family member of victims and residents who spoke to BBC.
The killing took place on Thursday, November 28/2024 (Hedar 19/2017 E.C.) at around midnight said family members, and the militants took nine men from their homes and killed them near a river.
Family members said similar killings have taken place in the area on multiple occasions by “Shene militants.”
Residents and family members told BBC the killing took place in a kebele called Solae Ferenqes in the woreda and had a “religious basis.”
One resident told BBC, “they abducted them from their houses and took them away towards the river, nine of them were lined up and killed”, saying among the killed victims was their 42 year old uncle.
The killed victims lived in “a single area” and were neighbors and relatives according to a local resident who said the victims “were all our family members.”
One family member of a victim told BBC that they reached the area after the attack took place, saying their brother was among the killed victims.
The militants came at around midnight when they “picked off each victim from their home” said the brother, they were taken to a river where they were killed.
Local residents who had been under fear traveled to the site of the gunfire the following day (Friday, Hedar 20) said one resident, saying bodies on the riverside “were discovered scattered.”
Among the victims was a father of four who made a living as a farmer and through woodwork, and he along with other victims were killed by the Ferenqasa river.
Among the killed victims were two 70-year-old elderly people said one resident, and that other victims were below the age of 45 and were locals who made a living doing agricultural work.
Enat Party issued a statement on the attack stating that nine people were killed and four were abducted, saying the attack was carried out by the armed group known as the “Shene of the jungle” based on information it received from residents.
One family member of a killed victim said abductions for ransom had previously taken place in the area, and that the militants believed family members of the abductees would pay money for their release at night.
Burials for the killed victims took place today, Friday, November 29/2024 (Hedar 20/2017 E.C.) in a church called Solae Kidus Mikael, which BBC heard from family members and residents.
The killing created “severe sorrow” among residents said one brother of a killed victim who called the attack “a massacre.”
“Individual graves were not dug; their burial was conducted with people gathered around....everyone is sorrowful...there was no one available to dig” they said mentioning that the killed victims were buried in a mass grave.
Residents told BBC on the day of the attack five other people were abducted from the area and taken away and they still have not been found.
One family member who was present at the burial said they were awaiting the bodies of the abducted victims, but though searches were conducted in the area they were said to have been taken to, their bodies were not found.
Another resident said it was likely four people were killed in an area called Burqa across the river.
The reason for the killing was unclear said one resident, saying all the killed victims were Christians and they believed the killing was conducted on a “religious basis.”
Over nine years ago there had been religious clashes in the area recalled the resident, and though there were followers of other religions in the area, the Christians were “selectively” attacked.
In recent days similar killings have taken place in the area and abductions have taken place as well, says one resident. Who called the November 28th (Hedar 19th) attack “another round of attack.”
“There are killings to the left and to the right. Three days ago, three or four people were killed” said a resident describing an atmosphere of fear, saying killings and abductions had repeatedly taken place in the woreda.
Local residents are “being displaced” from repeated attacks says another resident, saying persons who traveled to the kebele to gather harvests thinking it was safe became victims.
Shene militants have been operating widely in the area say residents, while security forces [the national defense force] were stationed in Solae Ferenqesa Kebele in a location close enough to where “sounds of gunfire” could be heard.
“People were killed at a location not very far away. It would be about two kilometers. At the least, the gunfire could be heard. But nobody came to help us.”
Today (Friday) morning burials were held after which local administrators gathered in Mikael Church with the national defense force and assured them security would be provided according to family members of victims, “we will take control, the public should be with us.”
Attacks on civilians have repeatedly taken place in Arsi Zone, including last year, on November 24/2024 (Hedar 14/2016 E.C.) an “organized” group of militants carried out an attack which left 17 people killed in Shirka Woreda as reported by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO).
At various times worshippers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church have faced repeated attacks in various woredas of Arsi Zone.
Over the past year over 36 worshippers were killed in the Solae Mikael, Digelo Maryam and Robae Indeto Debre Mitmaq Maryam Churches in Shirka Woreda.
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