Fano Militia Releases Hundreds of Youths

Fano militia has released hundreds of youths who were captured by Fano earlier this month.

In the first week of this month, Fano fighters showed around 280 youths who had been captured by Fano fighters in Gojjam zone of the Amhara region. Fano claimed that the captured youths were Ethiopian military recruits.

The situation took a new turn when Nikotika Construction Company stated that the youths captured by Fano were laborers from southern Ethiopia recruited by the company to work on a dam project. The company said that the recruited youths were sent by buses to the dam site. But when the buses entered Gojjam Amhara, Fano fighters intercepted the buses and captured the youths. Gardula zonal council issued a statement demanding the release of the youths.

This week Mulugeta Alene, Nikotika company project manager, claimed that the company had paid a ransom of 2 million birrs to Fano militia for the release of its workers. Gojjam Fano spokesperson Marshet Tsehaye denied receiving any ransom. But Nikotika Company confirmed today that the laborers had been released.

The incident indicates deteriorating security situation in the Amhara region where since last year Fano militias have been fighting security forces.

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