An eyewitness who resides in the town of Aykel, Chilga Awraja, informed Ethiopian Review that a bloody confrontation took place between local population and TPLF regime security forces. Several civilians and soldiers have died and the regime is now sending a heavy reinforcement to the area, according the eyewitness.
The armed clash followed a peaceful protest by students in Chilga Awraja who demanded the release of their friends who were detained in a previous demonstration. When the police tried to beat up and disperse the students, the local population turned against them. The police reacted by opening fire on the civilians.
Currently, the main highway from Sudan to Ethiopia through Metema is blocked and all government offices in the area are closed.