ARMED FORCES FROM TIGRAY LAUNCH ATTACK INSIDE AMHARA REGION; LOCAL OFFICIALS ADMIT THE ATTACK, SAY CAUSALITIES INCLUDE CIVILIANS

Local authorities in the Amhara Regional State, Wag Hemra zone, said an early morning April 25 military attack in Abergele Woreda of the zone  caused civilian casualties and property damage in the town of Niraq. The zonal communications bureau blamed “the remnants of the junta” for the attack.

The report from the Wag Hemra zone, the local authorities came a day after the Tigray forces said the armed forces had launched a military offensive in the regional state of Amhara. The report quoted spokesman Gebre G / Tsadikan and said the attack was targeting members of the Amhara Special Forces. The report also alleged that the “lightning strike” by the armed forces “wiped out the special forces in the region that committed high levels of atrocities against the people of Tigray and were stationed in the city of Niraq”. 

According to the Woredas head of Peace and Security Bureau, Azezew ADANE, the AMHARA Special Forces defended the attack, but the civilians were killed and property was damaged. He assured that Nirak town had regained relative peace and urged the community to remain vigilant. 

Likewise the head of the Amhara Militia Office in Abergele told DW that 11 civilians were killed in the attack and both government security and armed forces suffered losses. Woreda residents who spoke to DW Amharic described the loss of Life and property destruction and recalled a similar attack in Tsagebji Woreda, Tsata town, which they attributed to the “negligence” of the local authorities.