BBC Amharic – The killing of 19 people in East Wollega and residents in fear
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Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from BBC Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
BBC Amharic – The killing of 19 people in East Wollega and residents in fear
December 31, 2025 (Tahasass 21, 2018 E.C.)
An attack carried out by “Oromia Special Forces” left 19 people killed and hundreds of residential houses burned down and looted in Gida Ayana Woreda of East Wollega Zone of Oromia Region, residents told BBC.
Opposition parties Enat and EPRP condemned the attack calling it “carried out by the state structure” however regional and local authorities have not made any comment.
On December 23, 2025 (Tahasass 14, 2018 E.C.) numerous civilians including a monk were attacked with bladed weapons and bullets in a “horrific killing” in Tega Jiga (Shasho Ber) town of the woreda where Amhara residents were said to live, according to five eyewitnesses and family members of deceased victims who spoke to BBC.
Two days prior to the attack ENDF forces which had been stationed in the area for months left and state security personnel identified as “Oromia Special Force (Special Commando)” entered, said residents.
On the morning of Tuesday, December 23rd (Tahasass 14th) at around 6 am a gunfire exchange began said residents, one resident said they were unaware of who the gunfire exchange was between, another resident said it was between people who refused to surrender their private arms and went into the forest as “Fano”, and the Oromia Special Forces.
Media platforms close to Fano forces which operate in Amhara Region had reported fighting in the area.
The reports indicated there was tension in the area prior to the conflict and following its onset residents in the area fled to neighboring kebeles, while the fighting had continued until noon.
One eyewitness said they sent their family members away after the ENDF left the area, fearing what would happen after they received threats, and after returning two days later they told BBC they had witnessed mass casualties and destruction.
“Houses were destroyed; it was complete destruction” said the witness who reported seeing two bodies.
Another eyewitness was home during the gunfire exchange because she was pregnant, and her husband who was father to their five children was among the killed victims.
Three “Oromia Special Forces” wearing “green spotted” uniforms and one militiaman came to their home and horrifically killed her husband who was a day laborer in front of them, she told BBC.
“I became like stone, my children were crying as they fell on top of him, ‘bring the firearm or I will strike you’ he said as I picked them up (I thought I picked them up with my teeth), I picked up all three children. I fell to the ground and pleaded for them to kill me instead” she said describing the act.
Her husband was buried by the entrance to their home and five days later he was reburied in Selassie Church, BBC learned.
BBC spoke to eyewitnesses and family members of victims who said the attack took place after the gunfire exchange subsided, targeting residents as they were inside their homes, in church and as they were returning to their homes.
Most of the witnesses said the victims were struck by blades (knives) and killed after which their bodies were dismembered, which was the state the bodies were found in.
Two people whose family member was killed as he was coming to check on his house when the gunfire subsided said, “there were no body parts left intact” explaining the severe state the body was left in when it was discovered days after the incident.
“We were unable to retrieve the bodies of the dead let alone bury them. Through great efforts we manged to retrieve all the bodies by Sunday” said one witness.
Of the five residents and family members of victims BBC spoke to, four said the number of people killed was 19, while one said the number killed could be greater.
One resident told BBC the attack was justified by the attackers which said “your children are the ones fighting the federal government. You support Fano” they said.
Enat Party and EPRP issued statements condemning the attack which they said was carried out “directly by the state structure” and called it a “very saddening act.”
Furthermore, the parties stated that act was carried out by “the state with intentionality so the international community should condemn the massacre and call for accountability.”
The pregnant resident whose husband was killed said “I have no land, I own nothing, it was he who supported us through his day job. I have five children but have nothing to taste or eat” describing her dire ordeal to BBC.
“After I discovered him [her husband] in this state, I stopped eating, I have been hurt” said a family member of one of the killed victims describing her current situation.
Though the ENDF has returned to the area, locals are fearful and under a tense situation, they said.
One family member said, “people are terrorized even now saying they are coming. We are not living normal lives.... we are in fear, we are in an ordeal.”
“Beyond what has happened we are concerned by what will happen in the future. Even now they are not far away. We have nowhere to go, travel ways are blocked left and right” said another resident expressing their fear.
BBC’s efforts to contact Oromia Region Communication Bureau head and East Wollega Zone Police commander however they did not receive a response.
Gida Ayana Woreda is located around 100 kilometres from the zonal capital of Nekemte, residents reported previous similar attacks in the woreda.
The woreda is located near the border between Oromia and Amhara Regions where Fano were known to operate and conduct offensives.
