The government in Ethiopia’s Oromia province has accused a militant group of murdering over 160 citizens and dumping their bodies in unmarked graves.
The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which has been accused by the government of murdering ethnic minorities in the region, has yet to comment on the new allegations.
It has previously indicated that it would not attack individuals.
According to Ibsa Basha, a local official in western Oromia, the killings took place in the Gidami district after government forces drove the rebel group out of the territories it controlled.
The OLA operates in western and southern Oromia, where there have been recent battles with government forces, after allying with Tigrayan forces last year in its battle against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration.
The government’s effort against the gang is alleged to have included the use of drones.
Online indignation has erupted in response to reports of the purported killings.
BBC