ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Gunmen have shot dead a senior regional official in Ethiopia's Oromia regional state located in the central part of a country, local authorities said on Thursday.
Abdulahi Sojar, Chairman of Economic Sector at Benishangul Gumuz regional state, was travelling in the neighboring Oromia regional state by car when several gunmen ambushed his car on Thursday morning killing him instantly, said a statement from Benishangul Gumuz regional state communications office.
The statement said two other people travelling in the car survived with bullet wounds injuries, adding that the gunmen are suspected members of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).
The border areas of Ethiopia's Benishangul Gumuz and Oromia regional states have in recent years seen a spate of ethnically and politically motivated clashes that have killed dozens and displaced around 255,000 according to the UN. The dispute is reportedly over access to land and state resources.
In Dec.2018, Ethiopia established a command post to deal with a security crisis along the Benishangul Gumuz and Oromia regional states common border areas.
Oromia regional state located in the central part of Ethiopia has about 40 percent of Ethiopia's estimated 105 million population.
In recent years, southern and western parts of Oromia regional state have been suffering from insecurity, with the Ethiopian government blaming forces affiliated to OLF for the insecurity.
OLF is an armed group claiming to fight for the rights of ethnic Oromos who make up about 35 percent of Ethiopia's estimated 105 million population.
It is estimated there are around 2,800 OLF fighters based mainly in the western and southern parts of Oromia regional state.
