Fighters of the rebel Amhara Fano National Force have taken control of several districts in the region after inflicting what eyewitnesses say are heavy losses on federal troops in multiple attacks over the weekend.
The renewed attacks came after a captured female rebel identified as Balem Wassie was allegedly killed and mutilated by government troops.
Wassie was a member of the commando unit of the Fano forces operating in the Gojjam area and was captured by federal forces recently.
The Amhara Fano National Force (AFNF), to which she was a member, in a statement, said that government forces stripped Balem Wassie after killing her, skinned her breast and threw it on the asphalt road.
Recently, the Fano forces handed over to the International Committee of Red Cross about 16 wounded soldiers captured during operations in North Wollo.
The image of Wassie has been trending on social media, stirring increasing anger against the defense force.
Fano rebels operating in the region have launched what is said to be a retaliatory offensive targeting several locations in the Gojjam and Wollo areas and have taken control of different towns.
They have so far captured six districts in the North Wollo Zone alone, a resident in the area told APA.
He said that government troops had attempted to advance toward Muja and Kulmesk, passing Tekulesh near Raya Kobo, but suffered “heavy casualties.”
Other witnesses, on condition of anonymity, also told APA that the towns of Lalibela and Beklo Manekiya, which are found in North Wollo, have now come under the control of Fano forces.
There had been recurring incidents of verified egregious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings by the Ethiopian Defense Forces in the Amhara region of Ethiopia over the past two years.
