Recent reports indicate that armed assailants abducted numerous passengers from a bus traveling in Ethiopia, heightening concerns over safety and escalating violence linked to rebel activities, particularly from the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
Ethiopia Faces New Wave of Abductions as Armed Men Target Bus Passengers
Ethiopia Faces New Wave of Abductions as Armed Men Target Bus Passengers
Armed groups continue to threaten civilian safety in Oromia region as dozens are taken from a bus.
In a troubling incident earlier this week, a bus carrying dozens of passengers was targeted by armed men in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, near the town of Ali Doro. This attack resembles past events, including a notable occurrence last July when armed individuals kidnapped around 100 university students returning home from campus. While there are reports indicating that the number of abductions in the latest incident could reach 50, local authorities and survivors have pointed fingers at the OLA, a group that has yet to implicitly confirm its involvement but claims to be investigating the matter.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the bus was en route to Debre Markos, a town in the nearby Amhara region, when armed assailants confronted them and exchanged fire with local security forces. Tragically, at least one individual has been reported dead following the attacks on multiple buses. The federal government has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident, and attempts by the BBC to obtain an official response have been unsuccessful.
Abductions have become increasingly prevalent in Oromia, with armed groups demanding ransom for the release of hostages. The OLA asserts that it is fighting for the self-determination of the Oromo people, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, yet it has been designated a terrorist organization by the federal government.
As violence and insecurity continue to escalate, fears mount within the affected communities over the increasing risks posed by such armed attacks.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the bus was en route to Debre Markos, a town in the nearby Amhara region, when armed assailants confronted them and exchanged fire with local security forces. Tragically, at least one individual has been reported dead following the attacks on multiple buses. The federal government has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident, and attempts by the BBC to obtain an official response have been unsuccessful.
Abductions have become increasingly prevalent in Oromia, with armed groups demanding ransom for the release of hostages. The OLA asserts that it is fighting for the self-determination of the Oromo people, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, yet it has been designated a terrorist organization by the federal government.
As violence and insecurity continue to escalate, fears mount within the affected communities over the increasing risks posed by such armed attacks.
