Five employees of the Wonji Sugar Factory, who were abducted by gunmen two weeks ago, were killed, an official from the factory said Friday. The official, who preferred not to be named, told the BBC Amharic that the remains of five were discovered this morning in the vicinity of the factory, located 110 Km south of the capital.

Three of the victims hailed from the Wonji area, one from Adama, and another from Dessie. The four employees, who worked as tractor operators, had been employed at the factory for many years and were of advanced age, the factory official to the BBC. The other electrician was a young man who had worked at the factory for a year.

The official stated that armed groups abducted the men in the early hours while they were working at the factory site in Dodota, situated in the eastern Arsi zone of the Oromia region.

The official stated that he was unaware of whether there had been a ransom demand. Following immediate notification by the factory, authorities were alerted, and a search was initiated by the police. However, their bodies were discovered this morning. This marks the first occurrence of kidnapping and execution in the vicinity of the oldest sugar estate.