More than 60 people have been killed in a series of attacks targeting Christian communities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
The attacks reportedly occurred across three areas in the Shirka district, where residents described being caught off guard by armed assailants. The violence also left about 20 houses destroyed by fire, according to a statement from the Church’s Holy Synod.
One resident, whose 75-year-old father was among those killed, told BBC Amharic that the attackers surrounded the community without warning.
“We were completely unprepared and had no prior knowledge. They surrounded us from all four directions,” he said.
Eyewitnesses reported that at least five children were among the dead, adding to concerns about the impact of the attacks on vulnerable residents.
A church official described the violence as a “massacre” and said security forces arrived at the scene but were unable to stop the assault.
The regional government has pledged to take action against those responsible. However, responsibility for the attacks remains disputed.
A local official attributed the violence to the newly formed Alliance for Survival, a rebel coalition that includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The OLA has not commented on the latest allegations but has previously denied responsibility for similar attacks.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s statement did not identify those behind the violence.
The attacks have prompted many residents to flee their homes in search of safety, raising fears of further displacement and insecurity in the affected communities.
