Argeessa Baggajja Didaa was a fifth year student at Mada Walabu university, undertaking a course in animal science and range land management, before he met his death at the hands of criminals on the 14th of June, 2023. He was also at the same time an employee of the Goomolee district agriculture department in Borana Zone. The incident happened on 14 June, 2023 when a public vehicle he was traveling in was ambushed by unknown criminals at a place called Magaadaa forest in between Bule Hora and Yabello town.
According to an eyewitness who spoke to OLLAA under condition of anonymity, he was in the same vehicle as Baggajja when gunmen tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to slow down. The gunmen then fired on them indiscriminately. In the process, as the driver tried to escape, the bus slid off the road. The criminals entered the bus, ordered everyone to hand over what they had, then searched each passenger. The witness claims to have lost 10,000 birr in the process. “After the criminals left, we started checking on each other, we saw two individuals already dead while six others were seriously wounded.” One of the deceased was Baggajja.
Police arrived at the crime scene an hour after the incident. The dead bodies were taken to Yabballo level 4 mortuary. The late Baggajja was to graduate in two months’ time when he ultimately met his death. He left behind a widow and two children.
International humanitarian laws during conflict
All parties to a conflict must at all times distinguish between civilian objects and military targets, and attacks may only be directed against military targets. Attacks must not be directed against civilians.
In many parts of Oromia, there is active conflict going on between the Ethiopian government and Oromo Liberation Army. These parties to the conflict are obligated to respect the principle of international humanitarian laws. Civilians must not be targeted in any case. Those belligerents who refuse to respect the rules of war must be held accountable. We condemn civilian targeting and call on all parties to respect international humanitarian laws.