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Ethiopia bus attack: Armed men abduct dozens in Oromia region | Ethiopia bus attack: Armed men abduct dozens in Oromia region |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Dozens of passengers on a bus in Ethiopia have been abducted by armed men in the country's largest region, Oromia, as they were were travelling from the capital, Addis Ababa. | |
Details are only just emerging of the kidnappings, which took place earlier this week. | |
The incident happened in Ali Doro, which is near an area where around 100 university students were similarly abducted as they were heading home from their campus last July. | The incident happened in Ali Doro, which is near an area where around 100 university students were similarly abducted as they were heading home from their campus last July. |
Survivors and local authorities blamed those abductions on the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group that operates in the area. The group denied involvement at the time. | Survivors and local authorities blamed those abductions on the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group that operates in the area. The group denied involvement at the time. |
Referring to this week's incident, the OLA has said it had received reports of the abductions and that it was "conducting an investigation". | Referring to this week's incident, the OLA has said it had received reports of the abductions and that it was "conducting an investigation". |
According to one report by a local media organisation, the passengers were heading to Debre Markos, a town in the country's Amhara region, when they were attacked by the armed men, who exchanged fire with local security forces. | |
Another report said several buses were attacked, during which at least one person died. The number of abductees could be as high as 50, according to this report. | |
The government has not yet said anything about the kidnappings, and the BBC's attempts to get an official response have been unsuccessful. | |
Abductions of civilians - including passengers - have become increasingly common in the area. Armed groups here have in the past demanded ransoms for the release of the people they hold. | |
The OLA says it is fighting for the self-determination of Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, the Oromo. | The OLA says it is fighting for the self-determination of Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, the Oromo. |
It has been classified as a terrorist organisation by the federal parliament and operates in various areas in Oromia, including the district where Ali Doro is located. | |
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |
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