The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said on December 23 that at about 4 o’clock that day, a gunman attack occurred in the Metker area of Benshangul-Gumaz region, northwestern Ethiopia, killing at least 100 civilians.
Survivors said that up to 500 gunmen surrounded them at that time, and the attack lasted for several hours.
This follows a number of attacks on civilians in the area between September and October, resulting in at least 200 deaths and the displacement of thousands.
In mid-November, another gunmen attacked buses in the area, killing at least 34 people.
District officials said that the identity of the attackers and victims was being verified, but no further information was provided.
According to local media reports, the government of Benshangul-Gumaz region has arrested five security-related officials in the region.
The day before the attack, on December 22, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abi Ahmed went to Metkel to discuss with the local community and said that the federal government was working with local security forces to find a lasting solution to the security crisis in the region.
Metker District is located in the northeast of Benshangul-Gumaz region, adjacent to Amhara State.
There have been contradictions between some ethnic groups in the state due to land, resource distribution, etc.
