At least 34 Ethiopian Orthodox Christians were killed on Thursday in a fresh attack by gunmen in Ethiopia's Oromia region, bringing the reported death toll from attacks on worshippers to at least 94 in less than three weeks, local media reported Friday.

The latest killings occurred in Endato village in Robe district, where armed assailants targeted residents, leaving several others injured and property destroyed.

Local news outlet Meseret Media reported that security personnel attempting to restore order were also caught in the violence, while shops and other properties were damaged during the assault.

The attack followed two separate incidents on October 20 and 24 in Oromia's Merti and Shirka districts, where at least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Protect worshippers

In a statement issued on October 26, the church's Holy Synod condemned the killings and called for urgent measures to protect worshippers and prevent further violence.

Authorities subsequently launched a security operation following the October killings, arresting nearly 70 suspects in connection with the violence.

The latest attack has heightened concerns about the safety of religious communities in Oromia, where years of armed conflict have displaced civilians and fueled insecurity.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of the country's largest religious institutions, with more than 30 million followers.