Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from VOA Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
VOA Amharic – Militants in Oromia Region carried out an attack which left at least 38 civilians killed according to residents
November 2, 2024
Yonatan Zebdewos
Gelimo Dawit
On the night of Wednesday, October 30, 2024 (Tikimit 20, 2017 E.C.) militants carried out an attack in Birebisa Gale and Dereba Kebeles of Dugida Woreda in East Shewa Zone of Oromia Region in which civilians were killed according to residents who spoke to Voice of America.
Voice of America spoke to six people including some who lost their parents in the attack who said the attack left at least 38 people killed. There were also residents who placed the death toll at 40.
Ato Ashenafi Bogale, a resident of Birebisa Gale Kebele in the woreda said they were away from their home for work, and that four of his family members including his pregnant wife were killed in the attack.
“I lost my mother, my wife who was close to giving birth and my child at once. One of my daughters tried to run to save her life and she was shot and wounded” said Ato Ashenafi explaining that his daughter who survived was in Adama Hospital.
Another resident of Birebisa Kebele in Dugida Woreda, Ato Dejene Tilahun, said his 77 year old elderly father was shot and killed.
“That night I was home with my two brothers, two workers and my father. My mother happened to not be there by chance. The militants first targeted those who were keeping guard of the area. Afterwards they entered our courtyard shouting ‘Weri Kun’ in Oromigna.” Ato Ashenafi said at the time he hid in the crops and after the militants burned down the smaller homes they left to burn down the larger home, his father left the hiding spot to go towards the militants and plead.
“He was hurt as he went to plead to them. It was our mother who retrieved his body. They stabbed his hands with a blade, they had shot him in the chest. His burial was conducted on Thursday in the Medhanialem Church of Birebisa Gale Kebele in Dugida Woreda.”
Another one of his neighbors named Kushe Getachew was killed says Ato Dejene, “a pregnant mother and an blind elderly person were also killed. The attack was horrific. It was said this horrific act was carried out by Shene militants. What do we know. It is confusing” he said.
Ato Dejene explained that the kebele borders Sodo Woreda, and said the primary victims of the attack were ethnic Gurage and Amhara people. He mentioned that his late father was ethnic Amhara, he also said his mother was ethnic Gurage.
Ato Dejene said when the attack was carried out no security forces came to the area, he said due to insecurity in the area his father’s family members left their land.
Another resident of the kebele named Ato Gemechu Araba said his family members were killed. “The attack against us was a shocking and serious accident. I don’t have words to express it. My grandfather and my uncle’s two children were all killed. Our homes were burned down. I did what I could to save my family. We buried the ones who died and have been sitting. We are currently on a field in the open (homeless).”
Ato Gemechu said “in a span of three hours that night more than 40 people were killed. There were cases of five or six people being killed from a single family. This tragic killing was carried out under accusations that we supported the government or that we had weapons. The attack was carried out by Oromo Liberation Front Shene militants.”
Ato Gemechu added that women, children and physically impaired people who were in their homes were also hurt, “the majority of the victims were Sodo Gurage people. Though security forces from Dugida Bora of East Shewa Zone, Oromia Region were stationed nearby they did not stop the attack. Prior to this, residents of the woreda were being abducted and they would be released after ransom payment.”
Another resident of Birebiresa Kebele named Taero Tesfa said the attack which was horrific in nature was carried out by an organized force. Ato Taero explained the horrific nature of the killing in detail. “Over 40 people were killed including people with visual impairments, women, children and men. The killing was carried out by a group known as Shene. The act was psychologically intense. We have been unable to distinguish people we have simply been gathering and burying them. The majority of the victims were ethnic Gurage and residents are now fleeing to Meki and Gurage” he said. One resident of Birebisa Gale Kebele of Dugida Woreda who asked that their name not be used out of concern for their security, said there was rain that day and towards the night they could hear screams.
“Then we saw homes burning, the attack began at around 7:30 pm at night but it intensified towards 8 pm. Then the killing continued until midnight. They told us the perpetrators spoke Oromigna. We were hidden at the time. We were told they were Oromo Liberation Front Shene militants. In this attack children, seniors and pregnant women were burned inside homes in a tragic manner. What transpired was very saddening."
They said a burial for the killed victims was held in Dugida Woreda. “A burial was held for 38 of the victims. There were 24 from Dereba, 17 from Kurae, and two from Bitisi. The bodies were retrieved from the burned homes and buried in Kurae Selassie Church in the presence of woreda government officials. God help us because people who once lived together are now looking at one another in suspicion. I do not know how the government is viewing this.”
The resident said the attack continued until midnight but security personnel came in the morning. They said ethnic Oromo residents were also hurt in the attack.
The resident explained the situation saying “there were Oromos whose homes were burned and who were killed. For example a man named Mekonnen from Dereba was among those killed. He was Oromo, and my grandmother’s husband whose name is Gossaye was also killed. However the majority of victims of this attack were ethnic Gurage people.”
The East Gurage Zone Peace and Security Head Ato Tekaligne Nigussie said the attack was horrific. However he said he was unable to confirm the number of people who were said to have been killed. He explained that people were killed being burned in their homes and being shot. He said women, elderly persons and people with physical impairments were burned and died.
The Ethiopian National Defense Force and regional security forces came to secure the area said Ato Tekaligne who explained that efforts were underway from both administrations to help the victims.
Residents and family members of victims implicated the Oromo Liberation Front Shene otherwise known as the Oromo Liberation Army. Ato Jiraena Gudeta who says he resides in Norway and Africa and said he was an advisor to the Oromo Liberation Army, said he heard about the matter and said the militants were not behind this attack, rejecting the incident. He also said that his militants do not carry out attacks on civilians.
As we report Ato Jiraena’s denial, we spoke to Ato Gemechu Araba, a family member of the victims, who said people who survived the attack described observations used to distinguish the militants. “Survivors of the attack who suffered wounds saw them. If we leave everything else we know them from their braided hair. It was them who killed innocent people. Prior to this they had tried three or four times but they were not successful.”
Our efforts to contact officials from Oromia Region and the area to obtain more information surroudning the matter were not successful.
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