National defense forces had taken bank workers, a mentally ill woman, a teacher, and other city residents from the hotel and shot them on the side of the road
In Jiga City, located in the West Gojam Zone of Ethiopia’s Amhara Region, government security forces reportedly killed at least 18 people, including bank employees, teachers, and a mentally ill woman, according to residents.
The Ethiopian National Human Rights Commission (EHRC) announced it had received information about the incident and is currently investigating.
Witnesses said the tragic event occurred last Sunday evening, June 16, 2024.
Eyewitnesses described that around 5:00 PM, three patrol vehicles carrying members of the defense forces entered Jiga City.
Allegedly, members of the Fano militia operating in the area attacked the leading vehicle and then fled the scene. In response, the defense forces loaded their fallen comrades onto their vehicles and continued into the city.
Shortly afterward, government security forces arrived downtown and allegedly opened fire, killing several people present, according to residents.
Ethiopia Insider reported that the security forces, wearing Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) uniforms, executed people at the Goh Hotel after forcing them onto the main road and lining them up.
An eyewitness recounted that among the victims were bank employees and Bajaj drivers who had been playing pool and games at the hotel.
The waitresses at the hotel attempted to identify the individuals to the security forces but were unsuccessful in preventing the killings.
Mr. Abebaw Dessalew, a member of the House of Representatives from the Jiga Constituency, stated that 13 people were killed and two were injured following an exchange of fire between defense forces and Fano militants.
He confirmed that the national defense forces had taken bank workers, a mentally ill woman, a teacher, and other city residents from the hotel and shot them on the side of the road.
The United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) recently reported that 70% of human rights violations in Ethiopia’s Amhara and Oromia regions were committed by government security forces.
The report detailed that 248 civilians were killed in drone attacks carried out by the government from August to December last year, which also destroyed public facilities such as schools and hospitals.
In total, 594 human rights violations were reported in Ethiopia, with 70% attributed to government forces and 22% to conflict participants.
The conflict in the Amhara region escalated after the federal government decided to “reorganize” the regional special forces a year ago.
Clashes between government security forces and Fano militants led to a six-month state of emergency being declared in August 2023, which was extended for another four months.
Although the state of emergency officially ended two weeks ago, the region remains under heightened security measures.
