Indian hostages released in Ethiopia

Kidnapers in Ethiopia have released six Indian nationals who were kept hostage for ransom.

The Indians and their translators were being held in a small town 30 miles from the capital, Addis Ababa.

In early March, 27 people were taken from a mining site of a cement factory, they included six Indian nationals.

The kidnappers released 18 on 10 March, local media reported.

“The six Indians and their three translators were held by the armed men, who asked for a ransom of £370,000, $480,000.”

Girma Wayessa, a local administrator of the area, told the BBC that the kidnapping had ended without giving many details.

He said “he was working with the community and security forces to combat the growing number of similar incidents in the area.”

The Ethiopian government often associate these attacks with the Oromo Liberation Army, OLA, an armed rebel group. However, the OLA often denies carrying out such operations.

BBC /Shakirat Sadiq