The attack occurred in the village of Bekoji in Bulen county in the Metekel zone, the state-run Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said in a statement, an area where multiple ethnic groups are living.
Africa's second-most populous nation has been grappling with regular outbreaks of deadly violence since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was appointed in 2018 and accelerated democratic reforms that loosened the state's iron grip on regional rivalries.
Elections due next year have further inflamed simmering tensions over land, power and resources.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Thursday he had deployed forces to the western Benishangul-Gumuz region.
"The massacre of civilians in Benishangul-Gumuz region is very tragic," Abiy said on Twitter. "The government, to solve the root causes of the problem, has deployed a necessary force.
Ethiopian troops kill armed men behind deadly village attack - Fana TV
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopian troops clashed with armed men involved in a deadly attack in the western Benishangul-Gumuz region, killing 42 of them and seizing bows and arrows and other weapons, state-affiliated Fana TV reported on Thursday.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he was sending more soldiers to secure the region bordering Sudan, the day after unidentified gunmen killed more than 100 people in a village there.
Ethiopia has been grappling with outbreaks of violence since Abiy was appointed in 2018 and accelerated democratic reforms that loosened the state’s iron grip on regional rivalries.
"The massacre of civilians in Benishangul-Gumuz region is very tragic," Abiy said on Twitter. "The government, to solve the root causes of the problem, has deployed a necessary force."
Fana TV reported the military had killed "42 anti-peace elements", without saying when the clash took place or identifying the armed men. It said the armed group had taken part in Wednesday’s attack in Bulen county, citing regional officials.
The dawn raid on the village of Bekoji killed more than 100 people, the state-run Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said. Residents told Reuters they had seen dozens of dead bodies. Medics said they treated people with gunshot and knife wounds.