(Ambassador Media) — Residents report that armed men killed four people and abducted ten others in an attack on Thursday in Mikael Kebele Semero village, located in the East Gurage Zone of the Central Ethiopia Region.
According to multiple villagers who spoke to Deutsche Welle, the gunmen — alleged to have come from the neighboring Oromia Region’s Southwest Shewa Zone — surrounded the village around midday, dragged four farmers from their homes, and executed them in front of residents.
“When people tried to flee, they set fire to about 15 houses,” one villager said. “They also took ten people with them, including women and children.”
The victims were buried on Friday afternoon. Residents said they have no information on the whereabouts or condition of the abducted individuals.
Efforts by DW to reach local authorities were unsuccessful. The Central Ethiopia Regional Peace and Security Bureau later released a short statement on Facebook, saying it was “reviewing joint security operations” in areas bordering the Oromia Region.
A Pattern of Violence Across Regions
This latest attack adds to a growing list of violent incidents across Ethiopia, where armed conflicts, local insurgencies, and communal attacks have left civilians in fear and despair.
In the Oromia Region, persistent clashes between government forces and armed groups continue to displace thousands. In the Amhara Region, recent military operations and local conflicts have led to widespread civilian casualties and destruction. In Tigray, the fragile post-war recovery remains overshadowed by insecurity and humanitarian challenges.
Despite repeated promises of stabilization, the Ethiopian government has been unable to guarantee the safety of its citizens in many areas. Communities in regions such as Benishangul-Gumuz, Afar, and Somali have also suffered deadly attacks in recent months, often with little or no timely response from federal or regional authorities.
Citizens Losing Faith in Government Protection
Many Ethiopians now express deep frustration and anger at what they see as the government’s failure to protect its people. Repeated incidents like the East Gurage attack expose serious gaps in intelligence, coordination, and accountability within the security apparatus.
Analysts argue that without a transparent national strategy for peace and reconciliation — one that involves communities and regional governments equally — Ethiopia risks further fragmentation and loss of public trust.