The incident, which occurred earlier this week, has only just begun to come to light as authorities gather details.

The kidnappings took place in Ali Doro, a town located near an area where a similar incident occurred last July. On that occasion, around 100 university students were seized as they travelled home from their campus. Survivors and local authorities have suggested that both incidents may be linked to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group operating in the region.

The OLA, which has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with the Ethiopian government, has not yet publicly claimed responsibility for the recent abductions. However, their involvement in past attacks in the area has raised concerns about the safety of civilians in the region.

The Ethiopian government has not issued an official statement regarding the latest incident. Meanwhile, efforts to locate and release the kidnapped passengers are ongoing. This latest attack further underscores the growing security concerns in Oromia, where both civilians and military forces have faced increasing threats in recent months.

--ChannelaAfrica--