Four oil tanker trucks are destroyed and nine drivers and their assistants are kidnapped in the Oromia region amid a rising string of attacks against cross-country transport workers
Borkena Desk
TORONTO, Canada — In the latest string of attacks against cross-country truck drivers, four oil tanker trucks were destroyed and nine drivers and their assistants were kidnapped this week in the Oromia region of Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Truck Drivers Association announced that gunmen operating along the West Wollega-Gimbi-Assosa route burned the trucks and kidnapped the drivers.
Video footage purportedly showing the incident has been circulating on social media after Yeshofefoch Andebet—an active social media page advocating for the safety of drivers—published it. The video can be viewed here
The association stated that the incident was reported to the Federal Police and the Ethiopian Defense Force units stationed in the area. “Investigation is underway,” it added.
The incident took place last Sunday. According to sources, five of the kidnapped drivers were returning from Djibouti, and the tankers were full when gunmen attacked them.
Reports indicate that the kidnapped drivers are alive and that the “Federal Police are following up the matter.”
Association CEO Solomon Zewdu called on the public to protect truck drivers. “Most of them are employees. They do not own the trucks. Nothing can be achieved by burning trucks and drivers should not be subjected to political tension,” he is quoted as saying.
Attacks on truck drivers and passenger bus drivers in the Oromia region of Ethiopia have recurred for several years. The federal government typically links these attacks and kidnappings to “Shene,” a group that refers to itself as the Oromo Liberation Army.
Wollega is one of the areas in the Oromia region where the OLA operates extensively. In recent months, incidents have also involved Fano forces and the Ethiopian Defense Forces. In May, Fano forces claimed responsibility for killing an Ethiopian Defense Force general.
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