Armed attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region have killed 60 Christians, injured more than 20 people, and destroyed 20 homes, prompting Orthodox Church leaders to demand greater protection for Christian communities.

The attacks occurred on October 20 and October 24 in the Merti and Shirka districts, respectively. Fourteen people were killed in Merti, while another 46 died in Shirka, according to reports. The assaults have intensified concerns about the security of Christian communities in the region.

A local official blamed the violence on the Alliance for Survival, a newly formed rebel coalition that includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the BBC reported. The OLA has not commented on the latest attacks but has denied responsibility for similar incidents in the past.

A church official described the attacks in three areas of Shirka district as a “massacre,” saying security forces arrived but were unable to stop the assault. Church leaders had previously raised concerns about threats to Christian communities with authorities, but the Ethiopian Orthodox Church said efforts to address the danger had produced no solution.

At the start of the Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod plenary assembly in Addis Ababa on Monday, bishops condemned the killings and destruction as a “reprehensible, inhumane deed” and called for justice and protection for Christians.

The Synod said the attacks violated constitutional protections for religious freedom and the right to life, while contradicting the principles of human rights and the moral teachings shared by religions.

“Such an abhorrent act is completely unacceptable under the teachings of any religion or under principles of human rights,” the Synod said, adding that the violence undermined Ethiopia’s shared values of coexistence.

The church’s calls for accountability come amid continuing concerns over the ability of authorities to protect vulnerable communities from armed groups operating in the region.