On Friday, ethnic pastoralist Murles from South Sudan crossed the Ethiopian border and went on a killing and looting rampage against Nuer and Agnuak tribespeople in 13 villages in the Gambella region.
In a televised message late Sunday, Desalegn said neither the South Sudanese government nor the armed opposition in that country was involved in inciting the attack.
Some 208 Ethiopians (mostly ethnic Nuers), including women and children, were killed. More than 100 children were abducted, according to the latest reports by the state Ethiopian News Agency.
The attackers were reportedly well-armed and also looted more than 2,000 cattle, according to the agency.
According to Ethiopia’s Communication Affairs Office, more than 60 of the armed attackers have been killed by Ethiopian defense forces.
Weapons were confiscated from the attackers, including grenade launchers, while government medics are giving medical services to civilians wounded in the fight, the agency said.
Prime Minister Hailemariam said his government is saddened by what he described as an unprecedented killing rampage.
He said tribal clashes in the region are not uncommon but what happened on Friday went too far.
“The government is exerting efforts to get the abducted children released,” he added.
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