Incident Summary:

04/15/2016: Assailants raided a village in Jakawa, Gambela, Ethiopia. This was one of 10 related assaults targeting villages in Jakawa on this date. At least 60 assailants and 208 civilians were killed and 80 people were injured across the attacks. At least 159 children were also abducted. At least 91 hostages have been rescued as of June 11, 2016 but the whereabouts of the remaining victims are unknown. No group claimed responsibility for the incidents; however, sources attributed the attacks to the Murle Tribe.

GTD ID:
201604150025

When:
2016-04-15

Country:
Ethiopia

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Gambela

City:
Jakawa

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description Village
Nationality of Target Ethiopia
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 16
US Hostages 0
Outcome Combination
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Casualty and hostage numbers for this incident conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the most recent reliable estimates are reported here. Casualty and hostage numbers for this attack represent a division of a cumulative total across incidents 201604150017, 201604150018, 201604150019, 201604150020, 201604150021, 201604150022, 201604150023, 201604150024, 201604150025, and 201604150026. At least 32 of the hostages were released on April 30, 2016. Sources reported that 24 additional hostages were released as of May 21, 2016 and seven more hostages were released as of May 29, 2016. Sources stated that 29 additional hostages had been released as of June 11, 2016, bringing the total number released to 92; however, a later report estimated that 91 total hostages had been released. The whereabouts of the remaining victims are unknown.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Murle Tribe No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 26 Fatalities / 8 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 26
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 6
Total Number of Injured 8
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured Unknown
Sources
"Ethiopia says South Sudanese gunmen kill 140 civilians," Al Jazeera, April 16, 2016.
"South Sudan militias releases more Ethiopian children - website," Sudan Tribune, May 29, 2016.
"Murle community returns 56 abducted children to Ethiopia," Sudan Tribune, May 21, 2016.