Clashes between government forces and Fano, a militia in the surrounding Amhara region, in Este Woreda of the South Gondar Zone of the Amhara region, have resulted in civilian casualties and property damage, families and eyewitnesses told BBC Amharic. Four residents reported that the incident occurred in a village called Agona after Fano militants and government forces “unexpectedly encountered each other on the street” and exchanged gunfire. This resulted in fatalities among residents and the burning of several houses. On Monday, April 22nd, around 9 a.m., government forces were injured in the exchange of gunfire, prompting them to carry out the attack, residents stated.

“The government soldiers fired upon individuals at billiard and pool halls where there were no Fano militants,” one resident informed BBC Amharic. A priest told the BBC that his 22-year-old brother was killed in the attack, along with three friends from the pool hall where his younger brother was hiding. “He has nothing to do with Fano. . . . He was just a student. Since there was no school at this time, he was helping us with farming,” he said of his brother. Those killed were four young men and a young girl who was on her way to fetch water, the priest told the media.

The witnesses stated that the perpetrators were the federal army forces, identifying them by their military fatigues and the vehicles they were driving. The military forces also burned 18 homes before leaving the area, the witnesses were quoted as saying.

Several requests to obtain a reaction from the South Gondar Zone Administration and the local command post regarding the killings of innocent civilians and the burning of houses went unanswered, the BBC reported.