Security

Five Farmers Killed and Livestock Looted by Gunmen in Burji Zone

AI SUMMARY

Gunmen killed five farmers and looted over a hundred cattle in the Burji Zone of the South Ethiopia Peoples' Region.

Five farmers were killed and over one hundred cattle were looted in Nedele Kebele, Soyama Zuria Woreda, in the Burji Zone.
The attack took place last Thursday while the farmers were performing their daily work in their fields and livestock were grazing.
Eyewitnesses and relatives confirmed that the bodies of the victims have been recovered from the fields.
The Burji Zone Administration Office stated that the attackers were extremist elements who came from the West Guji Zone of the Oromia Region.
Burji Zone Police Commissioner Commander Zemedie Bantori confirmed that the attack occurred.
The zonal government stated it is monitoring the situation to bring the criminals to justice and urged the public to work with the government for security.
Efforts by Deutsche Welle to contact Ayele Denaba, Head of the Peace and Security Department of the West Guji Zone, were unsuccessful.
Residents expressed fear of future attacks and called on the government to hold perpetrators accountable.
Local residents noted that over 20 people lost their lives in similar armed attacks in the past year alone along the border areas with West Guji.