Toronto – In early July this year, three passengers busses were kidnapped in Gerbe Guracha in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Over 100 of them were students from Debark University. After a drama involving the government regarding the release of “most of the students,” reports were emerging that many of them were still under their kidnappers who were demanding 700,000 ransom per person.
Yesterday, another passengers’ bus was kidnapped in the same area – Gerba Guracha – area of Oromia region. The passengers were traveling between Debre Markos and Addis Ababa.
According to VOA Amharic, there were 52 passengers in the bus when they were kidnapped by gunmen. North Shoa Administration of Oromia region is claiming that the passengers have escaped except eight of them.
The gunmen were reportedly hiding in a sorghum plantation between Gerba Guracha and Miliki town.
Kefyalew Adere, head of North Shoa Administration in Oromia region, claimed that “security forces managed to rescue many of them.” He added that effort is underway to secure the release of the rest of those who are kidnapped.
It is unclear why the security forces were unable to rescue the remaining eight passengers if the locations of the gunmen and the kidnappers are identified. The release of many of those kidnapped is not verified from other sources.
Government says Shane forces are behind the kidnapping. The group that calls itself as Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has been extensively operating in the Oromia region of Ethiopia engaged in ransom kidnapping business and massacre civilians mostly from ethnic Amhara background.
The OLA released a statement last month in response to the kidnappings in early July 2024 and claimed that the government has its own Shane armed groups engaged in kidnapping and massacre of civilians in the name of Oromo Liberation Army.
Kidnapping of civilians has become a problem in Ethiopia in recent years but the problem in the Oromia region of Ethiopia at a different level. There are allegations that government officials in the region are involved in the kidnapping business in the name of Shane.
