Six Orthodox Servants and Five Family Members Slain and Gunned Down in Elu and Dodola, Oromia, Ethiopia

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ESG – OCP News Service – 01/04/2024

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia: On March 25, 2024, around 9:00 PM Cantor Semre Menasae and Archdeacon Daniel of Dodola Debre Kidusan Saint Gebre Kirstos Church of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church were killed with their families in West Arsi Zone, Oromia. The victims that were gunned down by “unknown assailants” in a locality known as “Kebele 02” included the cantor, his wife, their two children, the archdeacon, his wife, and his aunt (though some sources stated that it was his sister). A year and five months old infant of the cantor survived the tragedy which targeted the Orthodox.

Such heinous crimes have been frequent in the past five years, particularly in Oromia, Ethiopia, and it is a recent memory that similar attacks had taken the lives of many Orthodox Christians in Dodola Town in West Arsi in October 2019 and June 2020.

Furthermore, in South West Shewa four servants that were kidnapped on February 25, 2024 while celebrating the Divine Liturgy with eight believers and the rector of the Church of Asgori Rippa Saint George of Elu district were slaughtered by assailants on March 23, 2024. Though all paid ransoms, only the rector and the faithful were released.
The slain included:
1. Priest Cherenet Bizuwerk (Custodian)
2. Priest Samuel Wedajo
3. Hymnist Yared (Cantor), who was butchered to death, and
4. Deacon Beza Baye

Similarly, another priest named Melaku was also kidnapped on March 26, 2024 from the Church of God the Father in the district of Becho and another unnamed deacon from Tole district.

The Gurdian had reported on January 23, 2024 that abductions had become a pandemic in Oromia, Ethiopia.

Sources:
– Mahibere Kidusan Broadcast Service
– Wazema Media/Radio
– Seme’a Tewahedo
– Tewahedo Media Center
– The Guardian