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TPLF Militias and Civilians Fought a Pitched Battle in Shiniile
Ogaden Online
Reports reaching the Ogaden Online service desk from the city of Diridhaba in the province of Shiniile confirm the existence of a recent pitched battle that took place between the Tigrian People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) militias stationed in the area and the local citizenry.
It is reported that towards the end of last week, the civilians held an area wide demonstration to protest the recent confiscation by the TPLF militias of a fertile agricultural land estimated at 60,000 hectares. There were rumors within the city and its surroundings that the confiscated land was being given to Ethiopians migrating from the highlands. However, reliable sources within the TPLF militias and in Addis Ababa intimated that the land was clandestinely sold to a Chinese consortium.
Eyewitnesses reported that the TPLF militias instead of letting the citizens vent their bent up anger and frustration through the peaceful demonstration started shooting everyone on sight. Ogaden civilians once they realized what was going on immediately dispersed. However, Ogaden Online reporters in the area confirmed that instead of waiting out the TPLF militias to return to their barracks, as used to be the norm, the civilians many of whom were nomads who have firearms for protecting their livestock from wild animals in the area went back to their homes and came back armed and ready to fight the TPLF militias.
Eyewitnesses reported that the TPLF militias were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of armed civilians from all corners of the city. As a result, the TPLF militias were quickly overrun by the local civilians who appeared determined to face off the TPLF militias. It is reported that the TPLF militias left five of their own dead in the area and went back to their barracks. It is unknown how many they may lost or their number of injured militia members.
The civilians were said to have lost one, but there many injuries sustained by the civilian side. The city is still tense. There are reports that the TPLF militias have consulted with their bosses in Addis Ababa on what to do next. It is said they are awaiting further instructions. Many of the civilians are said to have sworn that rather than vacate their fertile land, they would die facing off the TPLF militias and any other group that attempts to confiscate their land.
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