Survivors told AFP that militia fighters from Ethiopia's second-largest ethnic group attacked a town in the troubled Oromia region, killing scores of people and torching and looting homes.
The incident happened early on Monday in Agamsa in Oromia, the country's largest and most populous region, which is frequently shaken by hostilities between the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups.
“The attackers attacked from three directions using gunfire and continued their attacks until around 2:00 pm,” a survivor, who fled Agamsa told AFP.
“They killed around 100 residents, torched many houses and shops and looted food warehouses using rickshaws, cars and motorcycles. I saw the attack with my own eyes, but managed to flee unharmed”.
Another survivor claimed that the attackers slaughtered around 100 people while robbing cattle.
Both claimed that the individuals belonged to a militia with its headquarters in the neighbouring Amhara region.
According to the Amhara Fano militia, which Addis Abeba has branded as a terrorist organisation, the attack in Agamsa claimed at least 62 lives, according to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
AFP requested confirmation, but neither the regional government nor the federal government answered.
The incident, according to locals, happened after revolving regional troops departed the area on Sunday but were not replaced.
A resident, who fled Agamsa but returned, said: “I’m still in Agamsa town but there is no government security forces presence. We’re afraid the attackers will come again”.
In a week of ethnic attacks in Gida-Kirimu, close to Agamsa, over 210 individuals were reportedly slain, according to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission in August of last year.
In an unrest-filled region in the country's far west in June, hundreds of civilians, primarily Amhara, perished.
Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister of Ethiopia, accused the Oromo Liberation Army of "inflicting damage" on civilians as its fighters fled a security force attack in western Oromia.
Several atrocities that targeted Amharas were attributed to the OLA by authorities, but the rebels have denied involvement.