Three Ethio Telecom employees released after abduction

Three Ethio Telecom employees who were abducted in the Marti district of Arsi zone have been released after one week in captivity. The employees were seized by armed men while working on network expansion projects in the area. According to a BBC report, they were released on Saturday morning after their families and the local community raised the funds for their ransom. The workers confirmed they suffered no physical harm during the ordeal and are now safe. It was noted that Ethio Telecom did not pay a ransom for their release. This incident follows a similar event in January 2026, where 11 workers were abducted in Western Wollega.