The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) said around sixty-seven members of the church have been killed in a series of attacks in Addis Ababa and Oromia region following the assassination of Hachalu Hundessa, a popular Oromo singer and activist in late June. The church described the attack as “well planned, premeditated, and systematic”.

In a press release, the church has criticized the government officials for failing to fulfill their responsibility both to prevent the atrocity and to recompense for the loss incurred in the aftermath. The church has strongly urged the regional government and the federal government to speedily ensure the rights to life, security, and to unmolested existence of orthodox faithful.

In the statement, EOTC has asked the government to bring to justice those who planned, executed, organized the atrocity as well as those within the government who chose to look the other way when the rampage was going on.

“Many people were rendered homeless in the rainy season, suddenly leaving the comfort of their house following the attacks; they were forced to live in severe hardship in halls and cemeteries of churches, in public institutions and individual houses; they were made to endure social and psychological damage,” the statement said.

EOTC said despite promises and pledges, no compensation has been provided for the loss of life and destruction of churches and property.

“The Church waited to see the government authorities’ pledge to apprehend those involved in the attack be transformed into reality. However, the commitments were not kept,” it says.

“According to the report by the delegates of the main committee who talked to victims and visited places which suffered damages, the main target of the orchestrated and brutal attacks perpetrated in the wake of the death of the son of our church Hachalu Hundessa in various place in Oromia by extremist elements with ethnic and religious agenda taking advantage of protection by those in the government system were orthodox faithful,” reads the statement.

During the three day attacks following the death of the singer, at least  7000 people were displaced and 67 people were killed in a brutal, savage manner and 38 faithful were severely injured or maimed for life while the 29 other sustained minor injuries, the report reads.

The church maintains that the recent waves of attacks at the churches were not simply incidents that occur during periods of transition as often claimed.

Getachew Balcha, the Oromia regional government spokesman, said the recrimination from the EOTC does not take into account the concrete situation of the region and the many efforts underway, he told BBC Amharic.

He said authorities in the region, including the president, have been conducting discussions at different times concerning attacks occurred in and outside the churches. The region’s security agencies are tracking down and bringing the perpetrators to justice, he said.