More than 65 killed in armed attack in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz, residents say
Gunmen killed at least 27 civilians and about 45 security personnel in Dalati, Assosa Zone, on November 5 and 6, residents told Addis Standard. Regional police blamed the group the government calls OLF-Shene and put the toll at 52.
Heavily armed men killed more than 65 people in Dalati locality of Buldiglu Woreda, in Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, residents told Addis Standard. The attackers targeted regional anti-riot police, local militias and special forces. They also killed civilians, including women and children. Residents said about 45 of the dead were members of the region's security forces. At least 27 were civilians. Several local reports put the toll above 100, but Addis Standard said it could not independently verify those figures. One eyewitness said some of the attackers wore the region's former security uniform. Another said the fighting lasted almost two days, with no intervention from federal forces. Local security forces could not contain it until the following day, the witness said. A 65-year-old farmer said his younger brother was killed in the crossfire. He had been searching pharmacies for medicine for his bedridden wife. The farmer said the fighting was so intense that families waited several hours before they could collect the bodies. Regional Police Commissioner Mohammed Idriss confirmed the attack to BBC Amharic. He said it began at about 5 a.m. on Thursday, November 5.…
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