Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) announced the killing of four monks at Zekuala  Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus Monastery on Thursday in Ethiopia’s Oromiya region. 

In a statement, the church identified the victims as steward Abba Teklemariam Asrat, Abba Kidanemariam Tilahun (secretary of the monastery), Abba Gebremariam Abebe, ascetic Hailemariam Woldesenbet. 

Another monk Abba Kidane Mariam Gebresenbet was wounded and is still in the monastery.

The monastery was looted at different times and set on fire – by radical groups. 

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church said that the victims were taken by the armed group from the Monastery last Tuesday and killed on Wednesday.  The Church cited Abba Kidane Mariam Gebresenbet, who is wounded and is staying in the Monastery, as a source of the news. 

The church said that the group OLF-Shane was behind the attack. 

The EOTC expressed concern for the safety of the religious heritages in the monastery and the safety of the monastic community in Zekuala. 

The church has appealed the Federal and regional security authorities to protect the monastery and the monastic community. 

The Ethiopian government yet not commented on the killing of four the monks.

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has been facing sequential attacks from the Ethiopian government authorities and armed groups in different parts of the country. On February 6, 2024, Abune Petros Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was deported by government security forces. deported