Addis Ababa, Ethiopia(Mogadishu24)-Ethiopian federal court has sentenced 60 members of the militant group Al-Shabaab to prison terms ranging from 2.5 years to 18 years, following their arrest in the Somali State region of Ethiopia.

The militants were apprehended two years ago after crossing the Somalia-Ethiopia border with the intention of carrying out terrorist activities.

According to Ethiopian Federal Police, the group had planned to establish a base in the Somali State, exploiting security vulnerabilities.

Authorities revealed that 92 militants, including two senior leaders, were initially captured during a security operation in July 2022 in the Afdheer region. The operation, which lasted four days, also led to the seizure of a significant cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, explosives, and vehicles.

The court handed down life sentences to two senior Al-Shabaab leaders, while the rest received varying prison terms based on the severity of their involvement. Additionally, the Ethiopian Federal Police confirmed ongoing investigations into six other cases involving 95 suspected militants believed to have links with Al-Shabaab.

Ethiopian authorities emphasized the continued threat posed by Al-Shabaab, noting that the group had been attempting to infiltrate Ethiopia by posing as civilians. They underscored the importance of cooperation between security forces and local communities to prevent the spread of terrorist activities in the region.