More than 100 people were killed in an overnight attack by unidentified gunmen in Ethiopia’s western Benishangul-Gumuz region on Wednesday, reported Africa News.
“Armed forces attacked residents in their sleep setting fire and shooting that killed over 100 people,” the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said in a statement.
According to the commission, the attacks, that took place between 4 am to midday on Wednesday, following the withdrawal of security forces from the area, which is home to several ethnic groups. The gunmen had reportedly set the homes of sleeping residents on fire.
The human rights commission said that at least 36 people were treated for injuries, including gunshot wounds, at a hospital in Bulen, located about 90 km from the scene of the attack.
“In addition to the damage inflicted on people’s lives and their bodies, crops were set on fire. A victim told us that he saw 18 fires,” the Ethiopian organization said in its statement.
The commission called for an immediate investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks in Ethiopia. It urged for the provision of medical and humanitarian assistance to the victims, adding that human rights protection in the region is weakening.
The attack took place just a day after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited the region. He urged for calm and spoke about the need to bring those responsible for recent attacks to justice.
An attack in the Benishangul-Gumuz region in October killed at least 14 civilians. It followed similar deadly attacks in September that displaced over 300 people. In June, violent clashes that happened after the killing of prominent singer, Hachalu Hundessa, resulted in the death of about 200 people, mainly in Oromia.
The Ethiopian military is also fighting rebels in the northern Tigray region for more than six weeks. The conflict has displaced close to 950,000 people.
Ethiopia is set to have presidential election sometime next year.
