Borkena
Toronto – Drivers and passengers reporting a serious security problem along the Addis Ababa-Dessie road due to kidnappings, robbery and beatings.
This was a relatively safer route to and from the capital Addis Ababa.
Based on DW Amharic report, which was published on Thursday, that is no longer the case.
Specially localities after Shewa Robit are facing serious security issues – according to the report. Shewa Robit, as a town, had been ransacked by radical ethnic Oromo nationalists forces whom the government refer to as “Oneg Shene.”
However, over the past three years it has become one of the areas known for intense fighting between Fano forces and government forces.
A DW report says gunmen operating in the area are now attacking passengers and drivers. They demand a mobile money transfer of up to 100,000 Ethiopian birr.
The problem is worse in the area adjacent to Oromo Community Administration and North Shoa Administration of the Amhara region.
Awol Endris, Oromo Community Administration zone peace and security division head, has confirmed that there were security incidents in the areas involving kidnaping and robbery. Gunmen in both areas are said to be behind it.
However, he described the kidnappings and robberies as “occasional.”
Recently, there was a report from local sources that a member of parliament from the area was among those kidnapped by gunmen operating in the area.
Their release was secured after the administration from North Shoa and Oromo zone (both in Amhara region) worked together. From the report, the kidnapping was from both localities.
Passengers told the source that bus transport between Addis Ababa and Dessie (about 400 kilometers) is no longer safe due to recurring security incidents.
The problem has been worse in other routes to and from Addis Ababa. For example, there has been frequent kidnappings of passengers along the Gojjam- Addis Ababa Road. Particularly gunmen (oneg Shane) around Gohatsion have been notorious about it. There was a time, only less than a year ago, when four passengers were kidnapped at a time.
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