Several protesters were killed injured and killed on Wednesday in Adama city. Adama city (formerly called Nazreth) is situated in the Oromia region of Ethiopia.
The regional police reportedly fired live bullets at protesters in Adama – about 100 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa. One of the victims is said to be a pregnant woman, according to local sources. The incident happened in Arerti and Abo locality of the Adama (Nazret) city Administration.
Reportedly, residents of area resisted demolition of houses by the city government officials which led to start of clashes between the local community and security officials. The city district government officials say that hundreds of houses built in the area are illegal and all the houses will be demolished.
However, the residents claim that they bought the land from farmers in the area to build their houses. They have been paying taxes to the government for several years.
Angry residents blocked main roads in Arerti and Abo localities. Police opened fire to disperse protesters. Unknown number of people were injured and killed in this incident. Pictures and videos being circulated in social media show dead and injured lying on road in the two localities.
No statement has been issued by the Oromia Regional Government, Adama City Administration or the Federal government so far.
The Oromia regional government has been engaged in demolition of residential houses in several towns surrounding the capital Addis Ababa which were later established as a single city under “Sheggar” city. Hundreds of thousands of residents are said to have been reduced to homeless after their houses were demolished.
The government maintains that only those houses which are built on state land are being demolished. While the residents of the affected localities say that they have been living in these localities for decades.
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