Ethiopian police kill four people in Somali border village

By: Ahmed Mohamed Adan 

Four people have been killed by Ethiopia’s paramilitary forces  in Saaho village which is just few kilometres from Somalia’s border with Ethiopia.

Abdi Hussein Sheikh, Mudug deputy governor said an Ethiopian paramilitary unit operating in Ethiopia’s ethnic Somali region has raided the villages near the border prompting the death of four people including women and children.

“The Liyu Police Unit launched an attack on innocent civilians. They killed four people who were nomads ,” Sheikh said.

He noted that hundreds of the village residents fled their homes fearing of falling victim the Liyu police raids.

The Deputy governor called for the intervention of Ethiopia’s government and Somali government before situation goes worse.

According to the local residents, the troops burnt houses and properties were destroyed and looted.

The paramilitary have also been accused of often crossing into Somalia and committing crimes in border villages at Somalia’s border with Ethiopia.

Last year, the forces killed several people in village in Gashamo town, which is located 220 kilometers (136 miles) from the border.

Sources said clan militias backed by members of the Liyu police, an Ethiopian paramilitary unit operating in Ethiopia’s ethnic Somali region have killed civilians and led hundreds others flee  their homes.

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