Armed Attack in West Wollega Leaves Fuel Tankers Burned and Drivers Kidnapped

On Pagume 1, 2018 EC, armed militants launched an attack on fuel tanker trucks traveling through the West Wollega Zone of Oromia Region, setting multiple vehicles on fire and abducting several drivers. According to Mr. Solomon Zewdu, Manager of the Ethiopian Heavy Truck Drivers Association, at least eight drivers were kidnapped and around nine trucks were targeted as they traveled from Dembi Dolo toward Assosa, with only one driver managing to escape. Meanwhile, the monitoring group 'Drivers' Voice' reported that at least 14 drivers were abducted during the incident between Gimbi and Bila. Attempts to reach local authorities and the Ethiopian Federal Police for official comments were unsuccessful. The Drivers Association voiced strong condemnation of the attack, emphasizing that drivers transport essential goods such as fuel, medicine, and food, and pleaded with armed groups to stop targeting neutral transport workers. Additionally, 'Drivers' Voice' highlighted that over the past year (2017 EC), at least 116 drivers, assistants, and passengers were killed, and 608 others were abducted in similar security incidents across various routes.