Borkena
Toronto – At least 24 Orthodox Christians are reportedly killed in the latest string of unending attack in different zones of Arsi, Oromia region of Ethiopia.
A toddler and 86 years old are among the victims, according to sources.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has confirmed the incident. Ten others are kidnapped.
The Diocese from the zone on Thursday disclosed that eight followers of the church were killed and four others were kidnapped. The whereabouts of those kidnapped is unknown.
The incident took place on the night of October 28 to 29 in Enkolowabe district. Gunmen are behind the attack. The victims were residents of the district and live near Kersa St. Gebriel.
On the night of October 27 to 28, three other followers of Orthodox Church were killed in Sherka district of Arsi, The Diocese office in the zone has confirmed the incident to Borkena.
The incident took place in Hela Zembaba locality. The victims were laid to rest in the same locality at the St. Arsema Church. Four other were kidnapped at the time the gunmen launched the attack. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
“On the night of October 17 to 18 [ October 27 to 28 in G.C.] three members of the parishes were killed and four were kidnapped,” Sherka district diocese office told Borkena.
Two of those kidnapped are members of the same family and have lost their family member in the attack.
Days before the Sherka Incident, 14 Orthodox Church followers were massacred in Abajema and Merti localities of the Arsi zone. The diocese has confirmed the story to Borkena.
Furthermore, it said five members of the same family were among the victims ; a husband and wife with their three children.
Twelve of the victims are buried in a church in Merti district, the Diocese added. Unlike the case in Sherka district, religious based attacks were rare in Merti.
Six followers of the church who were abducted recently from the district are not released.
Borkena attempted to reach out to Oromia region and Arsi Zone security offices to get remarks on the recent killings in Arsi zone but declined to answer the phone.
Recurring attacks against Ethiopian Orthodox followers has been recurring at least for five years now. A militant ethnic Oromo nationalist group the government calls “Shene” operates in the area. However, there are also remarks that those operating in Arsi zone also tend to have a radical religious sentiment
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Regardless of religious or political beliefs, all Ethiopians should condemn and strive to put an end to the senseless killings and harassment of innocent civilians based on religion and ethnicity . Perpetrators must be held accountable, and such actions must come to an end. May their souls rest in peace. Amen.
Nobody should condone this totally barbaric act. I was told that most members of Christian communities in that region are Oromos originally from the Salaale area. Many of our accomplished distance athletes are from Arsi and devoted Christians. Such isolated demonic crimes are sometimes hard to detect and prevent from taking place. I am sure you have already heard what took place in the UK today. With its sophisticated intelligence network even the super power UK could not avoid it. Ten innocent commuters were savagely knifed in broad day light and most of them with life threatening injuries. Such barbarity could only be avoided when citizens are united but in a polarized society like the Horn of Africa the atmosphere is fertile to breed such goons. In a united society common citizens are the ones that can foresee and nip it in a bud. They will say something when they see something.
The possibility of religious conflict in that country has been my worst nightmare for decades. May The Good Lord Save those noble people!!!