Ethiopian authorities have arrested four suspected members of the Dassanech militia believed to be behind the recent killing of four Kenyan fishermen near the volatile Todonyang border area, officials confirmed Thursday.
The suspects were apprehended in a security operation along the River Omo and are currently being held at Omorate Police Station in Ethiopia’s South Omo region. The fishermen were attacked while sleeping on the shores of Lake Turkana, just a short distance from a Kenyan security outpost. The assailants reportedly fled into Ethiopia, escaping with firearms taken from the victims.
Omorate Woreda administrator Tadale Hate said the suspects surrendered after local authorities detained their parents. “We’ve requested Kenyan security officers to come and verify the arrests and take part in an identification parade,” Hate stated, reaffirming the local administration’s commitment to fostering long-term peace in the conflict-prone border zone.
The attack, which occurred on May 15, is part of a long-standing pattern of cross-border violence in the Todonyang area, frequently driven by ethnic rivalries, competition over scarce resources, and unresolved border disputes.
Turkana County Police Commander John Tarus confirmed receiving information about the arrests from Ethiopian counterparts but noted that Kenyan security personnel had yet to travel to the area due to logistical and safety concerns. “We are in constant communication with Ethiopian authorities,” Tarus said.
He described the killings as a “cold-blooded attack” and a “blatant provocation,” echoing the anger felt across the region.
The murders have triggered outrage among local residents and leaders, who are calling on the national government to act decisively. Jackson Nakusa, chairman of the Turkana Professional Association, condemned the killings as a “heinous act” and demanded the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces to secure the border. “We can’t keep burying our people while the state watches. It’s time to take action,” he said.
In February, over 30 people were killed in the same region, marking one of the deadliest incidents in Todonyang in recent memory and further underscoring the urgent need for durable peace efforts and stronger cross-border collaboration.
As tension continues to mount, residents are warning of potential retaliatory violence and urging the government to equip and empower local police reservists familiar with the terrain to ensure a faster, more effective response to future threats.
Authorities in both Kenya and Ethiopia have reiterated their commitment to joint peace and security initiatives aimed at preventing further bloodshed along the shared border.