The administration of Shewa Robit confirmed that Mr. Lema Wondaferew, who led the town’s Office of Peace and Security, was fatally attacked in a recent assault, the city said in a statement. The administration praised Lema as a dedicated civil servant who worked around the clock to protect public safety and advance peace in the community.
The municipality’s statement described the assassination as one of several “cowardly attacks” carried out by armed groups, and expressed profound grief for the loss. Officials warned that they will pursue those responsible vigorously, vowing to “cut off the hands” of those who commit such violence and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The statement also condemned the belief that force can resolve civic disputes, calling such actors “powers of darkness” who reject dialogue and whose methods amount to shedding innocent blood.
The administration emphasized that, although officials may be targeted, the campaign for peace that Lema championed will continue. “The martyr may be gone, but the struggle he began will not end,” the release said, promising intensified efforts to protect civilians and hold attackers accountable.
Officials and community members say the killing is part of a broader pattern of attacks on local leaders and public servants across parts of the Amhara region over the past two years. Addis Standard and other outlets have documented several similar incidents in recent months — including assassinations of district administrators and security officers in both North and South Wollo, as well as other zones in the region.
The report from the city listed multiple recent cases in which district administrators, records officers and security personnel were ambushed and killed while performing their duties or traveling to and from work. Local authorities said many of these strikes were carried out by unidentified gunmen who remain at large, further heightening fear among civil servants and residents alike.
The Shewa Robit administration called on the public to remain calm while security forces hunt down those responsible, and reiterated that civic dialogue — not violence — must be the path toward resolving community disputes. Addis Standard’s coverage of clashes and disruption in Shewa Robit and neighboring districts has highlighted the humanitarian toll on civilians and the challenges faced by local administrations trying to maintain order amid the violence.
