Mass kidnapping near the capital raises critical questions about regional security responsiveness and ongoing civilian safety risks in Oromia
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Armed groups abducted more than 50 civilians on Thursday in an area outside Gorfo town in Sululta Woreda, located within the Central Oromia Zone, according to local residents.
The victims were traveling from Addis Ababa toward Gundo Meskel town in Dera Woreda on a public transport vehicle. Armed members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) intercepted the vehicle and forced the passengers to an undisclosed location. Two individuals who attempted to flee during the incident were shot and subsequently taken to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment.
The kidnapping has drawn scrutiny regarding regional security management. Because Sululta Woreda lies a few kilometers outside the administrative boundaries and security checkpoints of Addis Ababa—an area with a heavy state security presence—community members and observers have questioned the responsiveness and positioning of security forces during the operation.
This mass kidnapping reflects a pattern of abductions, highway ambushes, and civil rights violations across several districts of the Oromia Region. Human rights advocates and regional analysts note that recurring abductions along major transit routes point to declining public safety and rule of law. Despite frequent incidents targeting commuters, local populations report a lack of institutional accountability, as regional security forces often fail to provide timely interventions, preventive patrols, or official updates on rural and peri-urban violence.
At the time of reporting, neither regional administrative bodies nor federal security spokespersons have issued official statements regarding the Sululta incident, leaving affected families and local communities without clarification.
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