Addis Abeba– Two young men were reportedly shot and killed by militia members in the Kurfa Chele district, East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, on the evening of Monday, January 13, 2025, while returning home on a motorcycle from a nearby town, their families told Addis Standard.
The victims, identified as Kadire Shuaibe and Jafar Abdulrazzaq, were residents of the Gurawa district, Lafto kebele.
A relative of Kadire, who requested anonymity, told Addis Standard that the two youths were returning from the nearby Maya town on a newly purchased motorcycle when they were killed at approximately 8:00 p.m.
“They left home peacefully in the morning to purchase a new motorcycle in Maya town. After buying it, they were on their way back to Lafto in Gurawa district when two militia members shot and killed them,” the family member said.
According to the relative, the militia members shot the two youths, left them injured at the scene, and walked away. “Later, the local community called an ambulance to take them to Gurawa hospital, but their lives could not be saved,” he said.
The family member stated that the reason behind the killings remains unclear. “These youths were very young and had no disputes with anyone. We don’t understand why government security forces would kill them. The family is in deep grief,” he added.
A resident of Gurawa, who also spoke to Addis Standard, confirmed that the two victims were shot and killed. “Although I did not witness the shooting, I saw their bodies afterward,” the resident said.
“These youths were well-mannered and had no conflicts with any government body. I still don’t understand why they were killed,” the resident added, noting that those responsible for the killings have not yet been apprehended.
Efforts by Addis Standard to reach the Gurawa district administration and security office for comment were unsuccessful.
The killing of the two youths is part of a series of alleged security force actions that have drawn criticism in parts of the Oromia Region.
On January 11, 2025, a 14-year-old teenager in Moyale town, Borana Zone, Oromia Region, was reportedly shot and killed by “bullets fired by police forces,” according to local accounts. The incident subsequently sparked widespread outrage among residents.
In a similar case, a 24-year-old youth, Kala Bonaya, was “brutally killed by security forces” in the Miyoo district of Borana Zone. This incident led to large-scale protests, after which the government identified five militia members as suspects.
In another case in September, security forces reportedly opened fire on four motorcycle riders in the Boku Luboma area of Miyoo district. One youth was killed, and two others were injured in the incident. Residents alleged that the shooting happened after the riders “refused to pay a 50-birr checkpoint fee requested by the militia.” AS
