The family of one of about 100 university students who were kidnapped last week near Garba Guracha town in Oromia’s North Shoa zone, while traveling from Amhara region to Addis Abeba, said they received a ransom demand of half a million birr.
The sister of a third year female student at Debark University who was kidnapped on Wednesday, 03 July 2024, told Addis Standard on conditions of anonymity that the family have been distressed by the amount of money they are asked to pay, and lack of action by the government.
“We’ve been receiving phone calls from government officials, but until now, we didn’t see any action. Our only and best option appears to be raising funds and pay the money,” she said.
Family of another kidnapped student who spoke to the BBC said they were asked to pay 700,000 birr in ransom. “We don’t have 7000 birr, let alone 700,000” a family member quoted as saying.
Some students reportedly escaped on the day, while others were later released, “identified by their places of birth” according to the BBC. The whereabouts of the students still in captivity are unknown. Parents of the abducted students described the kidnappers as “Shane,” a term used by government officials in reference to the armed group Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
Asmamaw Zegeye, the president of Debark University, confirmed the incident to the media but abstained from providing further details.
