In Feres Bet town, Dega Damot district, West Gojjam Zone, 37 district and kebele officials were killed on December 6, 2024, following two months of captivity. The Ethiopian Journal Addis Standard reported that residents attribute the executions to Fano militants.
The killings occurred after heavy fighting in September forced national defense forces to withdraw, leaving local officials unprotected. Officials initially believed the situation had calmed but were detained by militants the following day. The media detailed how the militants paraded the district administrator publicly before detaining 97 individuals, including kebele leaders and militia secretariat members.
After two months of captivity, the militants executed the officials near notable town landmarks, including Feres Bet Mikael and Saturday Market, during clashes with national defense forces. Some detainees reportedly secured release by paying bribes, with ransoms reaching up to one million birr.
Regional Peace and Security Bureau head Desalegn Tasew condemned the killings as a heinous act, stating it tarnishes the history of the Amhara people. The incident highlights ongoing instability in the region, marked by clashes between government forces and Fano militants.
Previous reports by local media noted similar incidents, including the killings of a North Shewa district administrator in June and a Prosperity Party official in November, underlining the precarious security situation in the Amhara region.