Armed Abductions Target Passengers in Ethiopia: Crisis Unfolds in Oromia Region

Dozens of bus passengers were abducted by armed men in Oromia, Ethiopia, reigniting fears of escalating violence and insecurity in the region.

Dozens of passengers traveling from Addis Ababa to Debre Markos found themselves in peril as armed men launched an attack on their bus in the Oromia region of Ethiopia earlier this week. The kidnapping incident occurred in Ali Doro, a site previously marred by similar violence when about 100 university students were abducted last July. Although local authorities have pointed fingers at the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which has a storied reputation for engaging in such actions, the group has denied any involvement and claims to be investigating the reports.

Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene as armed assailants exchanged fire with local security forces during the attack, which reportedly claimed at least one life. Estimates on the number of abducted individuals vary, but reports suggest that at least 50 persons may have been taken from multiple buses.

Despite this growing crisis, Ethiopian government officials have yet to issue a statement regarding the abductions, leaving families and community members in the dark. The rising frequency of civilian abductions—often accompanied by ransom demands—highlights a troubling trend in the region. The OLA has been classified as a terrorist organization by the federal parliament and claims to represent the self-determination aspirations of the Oromo people, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group. The ongoing violence has cast a glaring spotlight on the precarious security situation in Oromia and its consequences for everyday citizens.