The Department of Public Relations of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church said that more than 25 civilians were killed in the East Arsi Zone, Oromia State, during the month of October.
In a statement issued on October 29, the department stated that the victims were followers of the Church in the area. The Public Relations Department collected information from diocesan to local congregation levels and confirmed that more than 25 innocent people were killed, including in the Honqolo Wabe and Merti Na Guna woredas.
A local church source reported that three civilians were killed and four others abducted in what he described as a “religion-based attack” by “unidentified gunmen” around 10:00 p.m. on Monday, October 27, 2025, in Hela Zibaba Kebele, Shirka Woreda, East Arsi Zone of the Oromia Regional State.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said the victims were killed in a “brutal manner” by the assailants.
According to the religious leader, the victims were “taken from their homes and shot,” noting that similar attacks in the area have been occurring since 2021 and have intensified over time.
He added that roughly 190 people have been killed in comparable incidents since 2021. While the identities and motives of the perpetrators remain unknown, the victims were confirmed to be members of the Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
The individuals killed in Monday’s attack were identified as Mamush Derbie, Tigist Jima, and Gizaw Ketema. Their funeral was held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Zembaba Arsema Church.
Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) have strongly denounced the recent attacks in the Oromia region that resulted in the loss of lives and the destruction of property belonging to Catholic community members.
In a statement released on November 4, the CBCE urged the government to take immediate and effective action to safeguard citizens and prevent further acts of violence. They added that the attacks have led to loss of life and the destruction of property belonging to members of the Catholic community.