From Prayer to Peril: 8 Lose Lives in Post-Kulubi Saint Gabriel Festival Attack

On December 28, 2023, a tragic incident unfolded as eight civilians lost their lives following the Saint Gabriel festival in Kulubi, as reported by Addis Standard. The massacre took place near Metehara, a town in Oromia’s East Shewa Zone.

Eyewitnesses have confirmed the abduction of ten individuals by an armed group in this late-night attack.

The festival, dedicated to St. Gabriel, is an important annual event in Kulubi, located in the East Hararghe Zone of Oromia. This town, near Dire Dawa, draws numerous devotees nationwide. The festival’s impact is felt in nearby Harar and Dire Dawa as well.

Tragically, the peaceful festival was marred by violence on the return journey. Among the victims was Desalegn Deme, a seasoned 37-year-old driver from Addis Abeba. A relative of Desalegn, preferring anonymity, told Addis Standard about the group’s journey from Addis Abeba to Kulubi in an Isuzu vehicle. The relative also mentioned visiting Metehara and discovering Desalegn’s burnt vehicle.

Authorities indicated the victims were buried en masse, preventing the return of remains to their families. The assailants abducted at least 10 people and injured others, who are now receiving medical treatment.

Desalegn’s group had an earlier encounter with an armed group in Welenchiti, where they were robbed of phones and money. Another survivor, who remained anonymous, shared his harrowing experience of being attacked approximately 10 kilometers from Metehara. He described an ambush by around 40 armed individuals who attacked vehicles returning from the festival, resulting in deaths and several injuries.

The Fentale district police in East Shewa confirmed the civilian casualties to Addis Standard, attributing the attack to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The police reported six fatalities, with victims burned inside a vehicle and later buried by federal and Oromia police.

Two vehicles, an Isuzu and a Tata bus, were targeted in the attack. The families of the deceased have sought the release of the bodies, but police have indicated difficulties in recovering the remains due to the nature of the incident.