At least five high-level police officers have defected the Tigray Interim Administration to join forces of the outlawed Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), an official of the administration told APA on Tuesday on condition anonymity.
The betrayal comes after militants of TPLF announced that they had reclaimed the town of Hawzen in northern Tigray from the Ethiopian army.
TPLF focal person Getachew Reda, Former Minister of Communications recently told affiliated media that hundreds of young people have joined the TPLF force to fight Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led government.
Late last month, a BBC journalist who used to report in local language had joined the TPLF force but rumors has it that he was shot dead amid recent fighting.
The defectors include Commander Kahassay Haileselassie, Mekele Zone Information and Security Head; Chief Inspector Ferew Alemu, Mekele Zone Crime Investigation Head; Sergeant Yohannes, Tigray’s Crime Investigation Head and Chief Sergeant Kiros Tadess, Hadnet Sub-City Crime Prevention Head.
The police officers are accused of working with the TPLF in clandestine and facilitating targeted killings against members of the interim administration established by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed after he claimed victory over TPLF in November last year.
The government last month disclosed that armed forces of the outlawed TPLF killed 22 civilians who were working as leaders and staff of the interim administration after November 2020.
MG/abj/APA