Oromo regional state security authorities link the gunmen to militant wing of Oromo Liberation Front (it is also called SHANE in the region) but no parties responsible for the attack is in police custody so far.
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March 19,2019
Five people are killed on Tuesday morning, around 7 a.m. local time, near Nedjo -Wellega-, in Oromo region,Western Ethiopia when gunmen opened fire on a vehicle, Oromo regional state authorities confirmed.
Two of the victims are foreigners – Japanese and an Indian – according to a report by DW Amharic service which cited sources from the area.
And all the victims are employees of a company licensed; by the Federal government of Ethiopia, to undertake copper mining in the area, reported FanaBC citing Ministry of Petroleum and Mining. Some of them were management staff.
The vehicle carrying the deceased was traveling from Mendi to Tolla Waqo when the gunmen opened fire in Humna Waqeyo, about 5 kilometers from Nedjo town.
The vehicle was in a blaze after it was hit with grenade explosion following the death of the five people who were in it. When law enforcement unites arrive in area, and it is unclear as to when they arrived, they found about 56 bullets, according to a report by FanaBC.
On Tuesday, DW Amharic cited Nedjo town communication officer, Tolera Suki, to report that bodies are in Nedjo hospital. But they could not be identified for they are disfigured, according to the report.
Oromo regional state deputy police commissioner, Retta Belachew, told Ethiopian state broadcaster, EBC, that the gunmen were armed Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) Shane group who refused to disarm through a negotiation process that involved traditional elders in the region known as Abba Geda.
A militant wing of OLF has been operating in the region for many months now. In January 2019, the group robbed 17 bank branches (both private and state banks) in a span of two days.
The Federal government deployed armed forces to the region and there were claims of improved security situation thereafter.
In May 2018, Dagonte Ethiopia cement general manager, Deep Kamra, was killed along with his secretary, among others, in Adaberga district, Oromo region, about 85 kilometers west of the capital Addis Ababa.
Prime Minister Abiy’s government has been criticized in connection with the way it handled the militant group.
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Have you proved that the crime was carried out by OLF? Stop your cheap propaganda and outdated strategy of linking OLF to terrorism. Nonsense!
Dear ‘Truth’,
Everybody knows the only armed group operating in that area is OLF. And Abiy’s government is scared to retaliate because they think it might be against the Oromo interests.
Who is caught in the middle? The ordinary Ethiopians. What are these groups trying to liberate exactly. The majority of the Oromo people just want to live in peace along with others. Their only requirement is to not be manipulated by central governments. It’s that simple.