Around 60 passengers were abducted when armed attackers ambushed a bus traveling from Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa near the town of Gohatsion in the North Shewa zone of Ethiopia’s Oromia regional state, according to sources who spoke to DNE Africa on condition of anonymity.
The attackers reportedly opened fire on the bus, killing an unspecified number of passengers before forcing the remaining occupants into a nearby forest. The exact number of fatalities has not yet been confirmed, and the identities of the victims remain unknown.
This latest incident comes just two weeks after a similar attack in the same area, in which 58 passengers were kidnapped between Fiche and Gohatsion. In that case, the abductors — believed to be linked to the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) — reportedly demanded ransoms of up to 1.5 million birr per hostage. While no group has claimed responsibility for the most recent kidnapping, sources say the method of the attack bears resemblance to the previous operation.
Security analysts say the North Shewa corridor — particularly between Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar — has become increasingly volatile in recent months, with a surge in armed activity targeting civilian transport. These coordinated attacks have raised renewed concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Oromia and its spillover into adjacent regions.
“The level of impunity with which these armed groups are operating is alarming,” a local human rights advocate told DNE Africa. “This area has become a no-go zone for many, and the silence from the authorities is deafening.”
In March 2025, over 56 passengers were similarly abducted while traveling from Addis Ababa to Debre Markos. Witnesses described being stopped at gunpoint and marched off the road into the forest by heavily armed men. Families of the victims said ransom demands were made within days of the incident.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has repeatedly raised alarms over the rise in kidnappings and other human rights violations in Oromia and parts of Amhara. In a statement released earlier this year, the EHRC warned that the continued failure to protect civilians and prosecute perpetrators was fostering a climate of lawlessness.
“The situation is dire,” the Commission wrote. “There needs to be a coordinated response from federal and regional authorities to restore security and ensure accountability.”
As of Sunday, Ethiopian federal or regional officials had not released a statement regarding the latest abductions. Attempts to reach representatives from the Oromia regional administration were unsuccessful.
Families of the missing passengers are calling for immediate action and transparency. “We just want to know if our loved ones are alive,” said one relative. “We’re begging the government to do something.”
The incident underscores the growing challenge facing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government as it contends with multiple security crises across the country. Despite promises of stabilization, many parts of Oromia remain under the control of non-state armed groups, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.
This is a developing story. DNE Africa will continue to monitor updates as more information becomes available.
