A court in the border town of Moyale has sentenced a man to nearly five years in prison after he was found guilty of posing as a guesthouse owner to kidnap and extort six travelers.
The convict, identified as Abdu Bunji, carried out the scheme in the Shewa Beri district of Moyale. According to the city administration’s police communication office, Bunji targeted individuals arriving at the local bus station from the Kembata and Hadiya zones. Under the guise of offering affordable lodging services, he lured the six victims to a private residence.
Once inside the premises, the situation turned into a hostage ordeal. Police reports indicate that Bunji forcibly seized the victims’ mobile phones and cash. The captives were held for several days without access to food or water.
During the detention, the perpetrator used the victims’ phones to contact their families, demanding ransom payments. He reportedly issued death threats to the hostages to compel their relatives to transfer the funds quickly.
The scheme came to an end following a tip-off from local residents who noticed suspicious activity at the residence. Acting on the lead, Moyale police conducted a raid, successfully rescuing all six hostages unharmed and taking Bunji into custody.
On March 24, 2026 (Megabit 15, 2018 EC), the Moyale City District Court delivered its verdict. Finding the defendant guilty of kidnapping, fraud, and illegal confinement, the court sentenced him to four years and 11 months of rigorous imprisonment.
Local authorities have used the case to urge travelers to remain vigilant and use only officially licensed hospitality services when navigating transit hubs.