Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has released Ethiopian Air Force chief Yilma Merdasa’s brothers. OLA has been fighting the Ethiopian security forces for years in the Oromia region of Ethiopia.
In the second week of April this year, Oromo Liberation Army conducted an operation in Amaya district South West Shewa Oromia. The operation targeted air force chief Yilma Merdasa’s family house. OLA kidnapped Yilma Merdasa’s 2 brothers i.e. Bekele Merdasa and Borena Merdasa. Since then, the two have been in the custody of OLA fighters.
In May, Ethiopian air force units raided a house in Adama city of Oromia. The house belonged to the in laws of an OLA commander who conducted the operation against Yilma Merdasa’s family in Amaya. The commander named Aba Seena has been part of the OLA for more than a decade.
The air force units kidnapped 35 year old Falme Musa (Aba Seena’s sister in law) and 18 year old Senasa Musa (Aba Seena’s brother in law). Since then the two have been missing. They were neither taken to any police station nor made to appear at any court. It is being said that the two are being kept at Ethiopian air force base in Bishoftu.
Later in May, Ethiopian air force units raided the family house of OLA commander Aba Seena in East Shewa. Aba Seena’s mother and sister were arrested by security forces.
The Ethiopian air force chief Yilma Merdasa wanted to secure the release of his brothers by kidnapping OLA commander’s family members.
It seems that the strategy worked. On Saturday, Oromo Liberation Army released Ethiopian air chief Yilma Merdasa’s brothers. Reportedly Bekele Merdasa and Borena Merdasa have returned home. On Friday, reportedly Falme Musa (Aba Seena’s sister in law) in a video call requested OLA to release Bekele Merdasa and Borena Merdasa.
The whereabouts of the OLA commander Aba Seena’s family members are still unknown.
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Ethiopian Air Chief Yilma Merdasa Abducts OLA Commander’s Family