Mekelle, Tigray – One person was killed and two others injured in Mekoni, Southern Tigray, after security forces opened fire in a local gaming area in a neighborhood known as Madya, according to residents. Residents said the victims were reportedly at a gaming center where they usually gather to spend their time when the forces fired, killing one young man.
According to the resident who spoke to Wegahta on condition of anonymity, Tsigabu Belay who is a resident of Mekoni was killed after a bullet hit him on his neck and Aregawi Tsehaye who was also at the game zone was slightly injured. After the incident Abraha Hagazi who is the owner of the game zone followed them to the high school where they were residing and was heavily beaten by the security forces on his head, the residents added.
Residents said the forces involved belonged to the Tigray Defence Force’s army 43.
According to residents, the same security forces had visited the area on Friday August 29, 2025 and allegedly extorted money from Abraha Hagazi, the owner of the game zone. After he reported the incident to the head of the Army 43, sources said, he didn’t get a positive response but the forces returned in anger and attempted to carry out searches, escalating into the shooting that killed one person and injured another in the game zone.
Today it was reported that the Army has handed over three suspects to the city police, who are carrying out further investigations.
In Mekoni similar incident that killed one person and left 6 injured happened in August 18, 2025 when TDF soldiers attempted to arrest Colonel Halefom Mehari, deputy head of the district security office, which led to confrontation with local militias and youth.
Situation in the area has been tense since the recent tensions in Southern Tigray following the announcement by the Interim administration to restructure the local administration. Reports of military units deployments, patrols in the city and intimidation of civilians have been increasing.
“This is part of a pattern of intimidation where forces move through neighborhoods harassing residents, search our phones and threatening those who have been critical of their actions” one resident who requested anonymity said. According to the resident, this month alone over 21 incidents of violence against civilians has been recorded. Several civic society organizations and opposition parties have been expressing concern about violence against civilians. On Monday Salsay Weyane Tigray, a Tigrayan opposition party said it has seen a sharp increase in killing, arbitrary arrests and widespread arrests in Southern Tigray in what the party said is a design to silence dissent.
The Interim administration’s peace and security bureau did not responded to Wegahta’s requests for comment