Ethiopia’s tallest man, Negewo Jimma has remained in custody of Oromia police in Meki town, East Shoa zone, since Saturday, December 10, 2022, Jimma’s family confirmed.
Jima was incarcerated from a hotel in Meki town by members of the local police and is since held at a detention located in woreda 03, according to a family member who asked to remain anonymous.
The police did not explain the reason for his arrest and have never brought him before court since then.
Before his detention, there were protests in many towns and cities, including schools and university compounds across Oromia following the killing of civilians in East Wollega zone of Oromia regional state.
Jimma took to his Facebook page denouncing the killings, which the family member suspects to be the reason for his detention.
“He is not a politician, and he has no affiliation with any political parties. The only suspicion I have is that, he has been denouncing the attacks carried out against the Oromo people in [East] Wellega [Zone]. He dispatched messages condemning the killings of civilians through his Facebook page. He posted photos of injured civilians,” he said.
Jimma, 2 metres and 25 centimetres, become popular for his height and appeared on various television programs and social media platforms over the past years. He was later recognised as Ethiopia’s tallest man by Ethiopia based African Book of Records.
Jimma was a student and interrupted his schools to receive treatment as he developed critical medical case. He is a resident of Meki town but often travels to Addis Ababa to visit his friends there, according to a family member.