Militants Release 16 Ethiopian Students After Month-Long Hostage Crisis, Dozens Still Detained











At the end of June, students from Debarak University were kidnapped in the Gerbe Guracha area of Oromia region while traveling to Addis Ababa by public transport buses. They have been held captive for a month.

More than 100 students were kidnapped by militants on 26 June 2016, between Goha Zion and Tulu Milki while traveling from the Amhara region to the capital city.

Although the government claimed that it had taken steps to release the students, families and sources who spoke to the BBC in the first weeks said the students had not been released and were being asked for ransom money.

Sources close to the matter told the BBC that 16 of the students had paid hundreds of thousands in ransom and were released last week.

On Wednesday, 24 July 2016, the families of two released students, who wished to remain anonymous for their safety, confirmed to the BBC that 11 students who paid between 100,000 and 500,000 birr were released.

The released students, nine women and two men, said their families sent various amounts of money through an unnamed bank to secure their release.

The families mentioned that the students who remained in captivity refused to say anything due to fear and misery. After the payment was made, they walked for hours from the rural area where they were kidnapped and reached Tulu Milki City at night.

The students said that when they arrived in Tulu Milki City, they were greeted by local government security forces. It is known that they entered Addis Ababa the next day, Thursday.

The students arrived in Addis Ababa around nine o’clock that day. Their families and friends welcomed them, BBC sources said.

Sources said that the kidnappers accepted a reduced amount from the initial ransom they demanded. The families paid the ransom by collecting money from different sources and secured the students’ release.

Additionally, on Thursday, 25 July 2016, five more people (four students and one non-student passenger) were released after paying ransom, sources said.

They also confirmed that on Monday morning, 29 July, another student was released and entered Addis Ababa after paying the ransom.

According to sources who have been following the students’ captivity for a month with their families, the hostages were beaten and sexually assaulted.

The students told their parents they had mixed feelings about their treatment during detention. “Some days they were cruel to us,” they said.

The students reported witnessing arguments among the captors regarding the treatment of the hostages, indicating disagreements among the militants.

The released students said that about 15 non-student passengers who boarded the missing seats were also kidnapped and are still being held.

“The gunmen told us, crying, that they had killed two people in front of the students,” said a family member of one of the hostages who spoke to the BBC.

This was confirmed by released students, who reported that two passersby were killed by the gunmen.

The deceased were both men, one a young man who lied about having money and the other an adult.

“The children are very traumatized,” said a source who met the students in Addis Ababa. They mentioned that the students were eating a locally common dish prepared with maize, onions, and peppers.

The students noted that the militants, numbering more than 30, were dressed in civilian clothes and appeared educated.

They did not see any identifiable inscriptions or signs indicating the location and described the area as typical Ethiopian countryside.

The students reported not seeing any institutions such as schools or health centers in the area.

Among the more than 100 students who were held, 40 have been released, including eight students who were identified by their nationality and paid ransom, according to the BBC.

The students were divided into different groups, and it is not known how many are still in captivity.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is investigating the kidnappings, told the BBC that the investigation is not yet complete. “We are still investigating,” they said.

The administration of the Oromia region stated that most of the students had been released and, in a statement to the local media, blamed the Oromo Liberation Army, known as “Shene” and classified as a terrorist organization, for the kidnappings. However, the armed group has denied the allegations.

Source: BBC

It was reported that 16 of the students who were held hostage by militants in the Gerbe Guracha area, a short distance north of Addis Ababa, have been released after paying a ransom.

At the end of June, students from Debarak University were kidnapped in the Gerbe Guracha area of Oromia region while traveling to Addis Ababa by public transport buses. They have been held captive for a month.

More than 100 students were kidnapped by militants on 26 June 2016, between Goha Zion and Tulu Milki while traveling from the Amhara region to the capital city.

Although the government claimed that it had taken steps to release the students, families and sources who spoke to the BBC in the first weeks said the students had not been released and were being asked for ransom money.

Sources close to the matter told the BBC that 16 of the students had paid hundreds of thousands in ransom and were released last week.

On Wednesday, 24 July 2016, the families of two released students, who wished to remain anonymous for their safety, confirmed to the BBC that 11 students who paid between 100,000 and 500,000 birr were released.

The released students, nine women and two men, said their families sent various amounts of money through an unnamed bank to secure their release.

The families mentioned that the students who remained in captivity refused to say anything due to fear and misery. After the payment was made, they walked for hours from the rural area where they were kidnapped and reached Tulu Milki City at night.

The students said that when they arrived in Tulu Milki City, they were greeted by local government security forces. It is known that they entered Addis Ababa the next day, Thursday.

The students arrived in Addis Ababa around nine o’clock that day. Their families and friends welcomed them, BBC sources said.

Sources said that the kidnappers accepted a reduced amount from the initial ransom they demanded. The families paid the ransom by collecting money from different sources and secured the students’ release.

Additionally, on Thursday, 25 July 2016, five more people (four students and one non-student passenger) were released after paying ransom, sources said.

They also confirmed that on Monday morning, 29 July, another student was released and entered Addis Ababa after paying the ransom.

According to sources who have been following the students’ captivity for a month with their families, the hostages were beaten and sexually assaulted.

The students told their parents they had mixed feelings about their treatment during detention. “Some days they were cruel to us,” they said.

The students reported witnessing arguments among the captors regarding the treatment of the hostages, indicating disagreements among the militants.

The released students said that about 15 non-student passengers who boarded the missing seats were also kidnapped and are still being held.

“The gunmen told us, crying, that they had killed two people in front of the students,” said a family member of one of the hostages who spoke to the BBC.

This was confirmed by released students, who reported that two passersby were killed by the gunmen.

The deceased were both men, one a young man who lied about having money and the other an adult.

“The children are very traumatized,” said a source who met the students in Addis Ababa. They mentioned that the students were eating a locally common dish prepared with maize, onions, and peppers.

The students noted that the militants, numbering more than 30, were dressed in civilian clothes and appeared educated.

They did not see any identifiable inscriptions or signs indicating the location and described the area as typical Ethiopian countryside.

The students reported not seeing any institutions such as schools or health centers in the area.

Among the more than 100 students who were held, 40 have been released, including eight students who were identified by their nationality and paid ransom, according to the BBC.

The students were divided into different groups, and it is not known how many are still in captivity.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is investigating the kidnappings, told the BBC that the investigation is not yet complete. “We are still investigating,” they said.

The administration of the Oromia region stated that most of the students had been released and, in a statement to the local media, blamed the Oromo Liberation Army, known as “Shene” and classified as a terrorist organization, for the kidnappings. However, the armed group has denied the allegations.

Source: BBC