Local sources say three young men from the Amhara region were killed under brutal circumstances in Abeshge district of the Gurage Zone, in an incident that has shocked residents of the area.
According to accounts relayed to Meseret Media, Temesgen Getachew, Yitagesu Asegedew, and Gizaw Girmaye were traveling on a public transport vehicle when they were forced off after being accused of being “Fano”, a term referring to Amhara armed fighters. Local sources say the men were then killed. The incident reportedly took place in a locality called Agena.
Sources named to the outlet described the perpetrators as government security forces acting in coordination with local police and militia members from the Abeshge Agena area. According to the accounts given to Meseret Media, the men were reportedly bound and mistreated before being shot.
Local sources further alleged that after the killings, the bodies were taken to the victims’ home area, Nacha Kelit kebele, and left in the open, with anyone attempting to recover or bury them reportedly warned against doing so. According to these accounts, the bodies remained exposed for three days before being retrieved.
Ethiopian authorities have not issued a public statement regarding the incident, and the report has not yet been independently corroborated by other outlets. Meseret Media’s sources described the injuries to the victims, particularly to the head, as severe enough to make identification difficult.
The alleged killings come as various government-led forums and consultative dialogues continue to discuss peace in Ethiopia, even as reports like this one point to continued violence and insecurity affecting communities on the ground.
Source: Meseret Media (August 10, 2026).
