Gunmen in western Ethiopia kill hundreds, including five-year-old child

Over a hundred people in Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz region have been killed by gunmen, according to a statement issued by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.

Authorities say the attack took place on Wednesday morning in the village of Bekoji, an area home to multiple ethnic groups.

One farmer who spoke to Reuters News Agency said him and his family were awakened by sounds of gunfire and quickly ran out their home when armed men shouted "catch them," killing the farmer's wife and five children in the process.

By the time the ordeal ended and Belay Wajera, the farmer, came to his senses as to what had happened, he counted 82 dead bodies, including his family's, lying in a field near his home.

Another resident who saw what was happening tried to fight back with his own gun but ended up being shot multiple times in his stomach, but miraculously survived.

Local hospitals have been scrambling all day trying to treat the 38 injured villagers with the limited resources they have.

“We weren’t prepared for this and we are out of medicine,” a nurse told Reuters.

The incident comes only a day after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, along with high-ranking members of his government, visited the region to urge residents to live in peace and harmony, alluding to attacks that rocked the area over a month ago, leaving more than 34 people dead.

By: Niza Nondo