16 of 167 Amhara Students Freed After Ransom Payment as Families Suffer Following Oromo Liberation Army Kidnapping in Oromia

Sixteen students, part of a group of 167 kidnapped Amhara University students near Garba Guracha town in Oromia’s North Shoa zone by Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), have been released after their families paid ransoms to the kidnappers, according to the BBC. The students were abducted on July 3, 2024, while traveling from Debark University in the Amhara region to Addis Ababa.

Sources close to the situation reported that the freed individuals, including nine females and seven males, were released after ransom payments ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 Birr were made. The payments were processed through various banks to secure their freedom.

Following their release, the students reportedly walked for several hours from their remote detention site to reach Tulu Milki town in the Oromia region. Local residents assisted the students, who were then received by security forces in the area, according to family accounts.

Sources told the BBC that the freed students arrived in Addis Ababa around 3:00 PM the following day, where they were reunited with their families and friends.

The released students described severe mistreatment during their detention, including beatings, sexual assaults, and overall harsh conditions. They reported experiencing mixed feelings about their treatment, describing some days as particularly cruel.

The students recounted witnessing acts of violence during their captivity. Some students reported seeing two fellow captives—both adult male travelers who were not students—being killed by their captors. One of the victims was allegedly accused of lying about not having money.

Additionally, sources following the hostages with their families for a month reported that the kidnappers, numbering more than 30, were dressed in civilian clothes and educated. The students noted the lack of identifying features or institutions, such as schools or health centers, in the area of their captivity, which resembled typical Ethiopian countryside.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (ESMECO) is investigating the case and has stated that the investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, the Oromia regional administration blamed the Oromo Liberation Army, known as “Shene,” for the kidnappings.

EAR- Editorial Note

This news story is sourced from: https://www.bbc.com/amharic/articles/cd9ddvz2q8yo