At least eight civilians were killed and five injured during an airstrike on Monday morning at the Baro Full Gospel Church compound in the Horo Gudru Wellega zone of Ethiopia’s Oromiya region, witnesses and opposition sources reported.
The victims were reportedly gathering corn from a field when the attack occurred.
The Ethiopian government has denied the allegations, calling them “an absolute lie” through spokesperson Legesse Tulu. However, residents and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group in the region, claim the attack was carried out using a drone.
“I heard a strange and terrifying sound on my way to the church for the harvest,” a church member who wished to remain anonymous told Reuters. “I saw bodies and flesh scattered in the cornfield.”
The two deacons, two church band keyboard players, and a choir singer were among the casualties, according to the church member. Another resident further stated that the sound and lack of visibility suggested a drone strike.
The incident comes at a tense time in the region, following the collapse of peace talks between the government and the OLA in November. The talks aimed to end the decades-long conflict in Oromiya, Ethiopia’s largest region. Sporadic attacks have marred the fragile peace since the talks fell through.
The OLA, an outlawed faction of the formerly banned Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), claims marginalization and neglect of Oromiya as its grievance. The group has also blamed Monday’s attack on a drone strike.
Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Oromiya regional government, and the military have not yet responded to requests for comment. The state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) confirmed receiving reports of the attack and stated they are investigating.
The incident has raised concerns about escalating violence in Oromiya and the possibility of further casualties as tensions remain high between the government and rebel groups.
