More than 50 civilians were reportedly abducted by armed men in Sululta Woreda, Central Oromia Zone, on Thursday, in a mass kidnapping near the Ethiopian capital that has renewed concerns over security along major transport routes.
The victims were travelling from Addis Ababa toward Gundo Meskel town in Dera Woreda aboard a public transport vehicle when armed men intercepted it near Gorfo town and forced the passengers to an undisclosed location, according to local residents.
Two passengers who reportedly attempted to escape were shot during the incident and taken to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment.
Local accounts attributed the abduction to members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed group fighting Ethiopian government forces across parts of Oromia. The allegation has not been independently verified.
The incident has raised questions about the ability of regional security forces to protect civilians along transport corridors close to Addis Ababa, where government security deployments are substantial.
Sululta’s proximity to the capital has heightened concerns over the scale of the abduction and the apparent failure to prevent armed men from intercepting a passenger vehicle.
The kidnapping comes amid persistent insecurity across Oromia, where civilian abductions, highway ambushes and armed confrontations continue to threaten communities and travellers.
Residents and local observers have also raised concerns over the lack of timely official information and accountability following attacks on civilians.
At the time of reporting, neither Oromia regional authorities nor federal security officials had issued a statement addressing the reported abduction. The whereabouts of the passengers remained unknown.
