Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from DW Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
DW Amharic – An attack carried out in two zones of Oromia Region left a significant number of people killed say eyewitnesses
Seyoum Getu
November 1, 2024 (Tikimit 22, 2017 E.C.)
Witnesses reported that militants killed a significant number of people in Dugida Woreda of North Shewa and East Shewa Zones of Oromia Region. In a morning attack in Wuchale Woreda an administrator named Ato Nigussie Koru was killed. In another attack in the Meki area mothers, elderly people and children were killed and homes were burned down, witnesses explained.
The shocking attack by the militants was carried out in rural areas located over 18 km from Meki town in Dugida Woreda of East Shewa Zone in Oromia Region, and surviving witnesses said a large number of residential homes were burned down.
On the night of Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 (Tikimit 20, 2017 E.C.) the attack started at around 9 am and lasted until midnight with children, mothers and elderly persons being killed under horrific circumstances.
One victim who gave us their account under condition of anonymity out of concern for their safety said the casualties in the Ejersa Laylay area which borders Sodo Woreda was particularly brutal. “The attack began on Wednesday night at around 9 am with houses burned down and killings. This attack was carried out by ‘militants called Shene’. The reasoning they provided was why we were working with the government, and since residents had faced repeated attacks from the militants, they organized to defend themselves.” The source emphasized that repeated attacks had taken place in the area by the militants however this was the most horrific attack seen by locals yet.
The source said “prior to this they abducted many people and released them. There was a lot of suffering inflicted. It has gotten worse now and that night they came from many directions, closing people’s homes and setting them on fire, and those who tried to run were shot. We buried over 40 people yesterday placing three to four people in each hole.”
Yesterday the bodies of the dead were buried in two churches located in Hamus Gozena Dereba Kebele according to the source. On that day, in addition to the human casualties, animals were also burned along with the homes and a significant amount of property had been destroyed. At this time, locals are leaving the area out of fear of further attacks. “Now we too have left the area. However we have heard that security forces came to the area” they said expressing their views.
Deutsche Welle’s efforts to call the Dugida Woreda Communications head and the East Shewa Zone Police Division to receive further information from officials were unsuccessful.
This morning an attack carried out by militants in Wuchale Woreda of North Shewa Zone in Oromia Region killed a significant number of people including the woreda administrator. This was also confirmed by one local resident who spoke to Deutsche Welle. “It has been confirmed that woreda administrator Nigussie Koru passed away. It is being said a significant number of people have been killed though we still do not know the details. The main town of this woreda, Mukaturi is located only 82 km from Addis Ababa. The attack was carried out this morning. The people are saddened. I still do not know if the full extent of the damages caused by the attack is known.”
The Alelitu Woreda which borders Wuchale Woreda on its social media page confirmed that the former Alelitu Woreda administrator and current administrator of Wuchale Woreda, Ato Nigussie Koru Guremu was killed by actors “whose goal was to kill” and condemned the killing. Our efforts to contact the zone’s security administrator Ato Solomon for further information regarding the attack were unsuccessful as he did not answer his phone.
Seyoum Getu
Eshete Bekele
Yohannes Gebreegziabeher
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