Gunfire in the middle of the night

It was Monday, a week before Easter Celebration in Ethiopia in the Julian Calendar (2014, that is, 2021). Residents of Tombee Dhangam locality in Horro Guduru Wallagga Zone since it was late nightfall. Gunfire echoed in the middle of the night. The terrified residents simply ran without knowing which direction they were heading. No one thought of either to secure the resource or confront the threat to their life. The least they did was to pick their kids aside escaping for own life.

Residents fleeing their homestead gave an opportunity to those behind the gunfire grab the resources. It was meant to disconnect the people from their hard won properties. What did they do after the ransacking? Ayyaantuu Berhanu, a victim among family members, narrated the story.

My name is Ayyantu Birhanu. I used to live in Horro Guduru Wallagga Zone at a locality called Tombee Dhangam. When the armed group opened gunfire, we fled to Amuru, District capital we could reach trekking. While in Amuru similar event took place in the month of September. Then we had to walk long distance for three (3) days to Shambu, the Zone capital, which means we were displaced twice.

At the time this story was recorded, Ayyaantu was doing little things like day labor for survival and rearing her children. Among her little activities were selling fresh corn on the cob and selling mangoes by the street whichever was available seasonally.

She recollects the good time they had harvesting crops in abundance and raising the livestock. They were living in a relatively good shelter. They lost the house which was burned down; properties were robbed. They took the cattle too. Her father’s property was also robbed.

Ayyaantu worries much more about the future of her children. She says the children couldn’t continue education ever since they went to the town. They sit idle. Sometimes she walks to different market places leaving the children behind. Even though she tries hard to sufficiently feed the children, she fails to satisfy them as much as she did in the past when they used to enjoy sufficient feeding and dressed well. That hurts her.

Ayyaantuu wishes to go back to her place of origin to resume life if peace is restored. She has strong desire to return to her old place to bring up her children.

Narration of the story told by the victim is so moving. Particularly, one could imagine utter fear under resounding gunfire in darkness when residents were asleep assuming all is well. Forgetting the deafening sound of the lethal gun, little noise could disturb somebody asleep. It should have been responsibility of those entrusted to ensure peace and security to protect the people. The militia, the police and security agents should have been on high alert to safeguard residents against attack of any form.

What we learn from this story is the priceless value of peace for a community to stabilize and thrive. All should do their part towards restoration of peace instead of ‘cry over spilt milk’.