More than 40 residents, including children and pregnant women, were killed in an attack by Shene militants in western Ethiopia’s Benishangul Gumuz region, local officials and residents said.

The assault unfolded late on November 22, 2025, in Kuji kebele, Bulen woreda. Bulen District Administrator Ato Nemera Maru reported 36 fatalities, while local militia officials said 40 bodies were buried on Saturday. Two others, who had travelled to Bulen for medical treatment, were later found dead.

Dr. Mebratu Alemu, a member of the House of People’s Representatives for the Shinasha Special Constituency—which includes Bulen and Wenbera districts—confirmed that the attack struck at around 11 pm on Saturday, leaving more than 40 people dead.

Residents and officials put the total death toll at 42, accounting for those who died from injuries sustained during the assault.

The attack underscores ongoing security challenges in Benishangul Gumuz, where local authorities have struggled to contain militant activity despite repeated government interventions.