Reports Indicate Targeted Killings and Arson in Gida Ayana District as Violence Flares Again in Western Oromia
By Borkena Desk
TORONTO, Canada — A resurgent, massive, and coordinated attack against ethnic Amharas has been reported in the East Wollega Zone of Ethiopia’s Oromia region. The Geda Commando, a security force operating under the Oromia regional state structure, has been directly linked to the violence, which has reportedly claimed dozens of lives.
According to reports, the pattern of the attacks bears characteristics aimed at cleansing ethnic Amharas from the entire Wollega region.
The Ethiopia Media Service (EMS), a diaspora-based outlet citing sources from the Gida Ayana district, reported that Ethiopian Orthodox Church archpriest Qomos Aba Tadesse was among those shot dead by Geda Commando forces. Video footage circulating on social media purportedly shows him being abused by the commandos in Wollega, followed by images of his deceased body.
Sources added that Qomos Aba Tadesse and several other priests serving at the Andodie Selassie Church in the Gida Ayana district were forced into custody in the middle of a church service.
Additional video footage on social media shows organized crowds moving house-to-house and setting buildings on fire within the district. In a separate incident highlighted by EMS as part of the broader pattern of violence, a woman begging outside a church was shot dead, while her young daughter was shot in the legs and found alive near her body.
Borkena has extensively covered recurring massacres targeting ethnic Amharas in Wollega and other parts of the Oromia region over the past six years.
Over 20 residents are reportedly confirmed dead, while thousands have fled their homes and remain in hiding. Neither the federal government nor the Oromia regional administration had issued statements regarding the incident at the time of publication.
In a related development, gunmen linked to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) reportedly killed at least 16 civilians in the Gurage area. Residents told EMS that Tiya and Suten towns were shelled with heavy artillery, indicating government force involvement as well. Eyewitnesses reported that ethnic Gurages are being pressured to identify as ethnic Oromos. Residents from affected districts have fled to Butajira, where victims are receiving treatment, placing local hospital resources under severe strain.
While Fano forces launched military operations in the area earlier this year—claiming significant gains, including the killing of a military general—EMS reported that the civilians targeted by the Geda Commandos had no involvement in those military operations.
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obsa Tadasa
Dear Editors,
I’m coming back to you again to once more looking for your journalistic skills. I would like you to look at this very photo and start your independent investigation as soon as your very busy schedule allows. I am not refuting the already proven fact that atrocities that was inflicted on our Amhara, Oromo and Tigre brothers and sisters since 1991. My late very dear friend’s uncle was one of the first victims of bigots and connivers. She was the first person I contacted on my first day here in America. She and her American husband were the ones who taught me the ropes on how to navigate the corporate jungle of America. I remember that one fateful Sunday she called me and heard her uncontrollably sobbing on the phone. I thought she was having sudden marriage problem. But that was not. She told me a group of armed gangs took her elderly uncle who was bed ridden from chronic illness and murdered him in a dead of a night. She told me those who killed him were those in the so-called ‘liberation army’ of the OLF. So I called one of those fans of the murderers to find out why they killed a helpless elderly man. His first reaction was telling me it was the soldiers of the EPRDF who carried out the massacre. Then I called one of my merchant relatives in the capital to find out who did it and he told me it was members of the OLF. Then I called back the fan of the bigots and told him that I found out it was his friends who did it. Then he changed his tunes and told me the victims were the ones that instigated the whole fracas. I then asked one of my relatives to go to the place of the massacre and investigate who carried out the repugnant atrocities and covered all the expenses. He traveled to the district and confirmed to me that the perpetrators were beyond any doubt the OLF’s vagabonds.
Now it is a different environment where thanks to make-believe AI has taken fake news to new heights. That is why I decided to bother you one more time to verify this photo. I don’t believe it is authentic. But again I am not saying the killings of innocent civilians never happened. Every one of such reporting should be taken with a grain of salt and authenticated.
Blessings to you and your family.
If the roles were reversed, you wouldn’t ask for verification. You definitely have gaslighting prowess. You are quick to jump the gun on other issues.
This is 1970’s revisited. The years of those 1970’s is when the old country lost a generation due to an all out bloodshed. It was the time when opposition groups were killing each other and the military junta butchering every opposition without mercy. The perpetrators of the bloodshed were said to be members of MEISONE, EPRP, ELF/EPLF, OLF, TPLF, WSLF/ONLF, and the DERG. Those were followed by EPRDF and the current regime since 1991. These two started making prisoners disappear without a trace in secret and when that did not work then they went back to the textbooks of the DERG. You now see bigots and rogue soldiers showing photos and videos of their barbaric crimes against humanity. I remember a gruesome video several years ago that took place in the northwestern part of that country showing a citizen being stoned and bayoneted to his death while pleading for his life which was condemned by the Holiness leader of my neighbor Christian brothers and sisters. Those who claim themselves to be fighting the regime to liberate this or that group of people have been cited for committing the same savage crimes against innocent civilians. We have to remember the legal protection everyone is entitled that the accused is innocent until proven guilty in a fair and open court of law. Extrajudicial killings are crimes against humanity. We should never ever condone such repulsive crimes no matter who committed them. Period.
Historically, an Orthodox Church or Christian never attacked any Other Religious People, bulding, Shrine or Cemeteries!!! And will continue peacefully Instead; according to the principle, Morale and Law of our deeply rooted discipline,
We give a High honor and Reverence for Humanity!!
It’s “HARAM”!!!! to make such an acceptable and Impure deeds of Evil and Satanism!!!
ORTHODOX TEWAHEDO CHURCH is simply, & extremely peaceful!!
Where does this hate come from to attack it in such lawless and barbarism way??
Tell me please in the Name of Allah the Misericorde!
Allah never never allow to kill, or suffer innocent priests, monks, hermits, deacons, or faithful peoples, or any other ordinary people. Its a great great shame to demolish , or destroy His People’s Dignity. After all, are you created from human beings? Or something wrong in your mind????
Allah Akbar!!