ONM-ABO, September 23, 2025
Residents of Laaloo Noora village in Begi district, West Wallagga, have accused government forces of killing a mentally ill man during a military operation over the weekend.
The victim, known only as Asman, had reportedly suffered from mental illness for more than a decade. According to local sources, he was found dead on Sunday, 22 September, following what witnesses describe as a brutal assault carried out by members of the Bilxiginna army.
Community members claim the killing is part of a broader pattern of violence targeting vulnerable civilians, including the mentally ill, street children, and the homeless, often under the pretext of targeting members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
“The regime’s forces continue to murder innocent people and then claim they’ve neutralised OLA fighters,” one resident told ONM, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals. “Asman was unarmed, ill, and posed no threat. His death is another tragic example of how far this violence has gone.”
Activists and residents alike have condemned the killings as systematic and politically motivated, accusing the state of waging a war not only against armed opposition but against the Oromo people at large.
The government has not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
