About 81 people were killed in Ethiopia after a popular singer’s death sparked violent protests in the country’s Oromia region.

The Oromia Police Chief in a televised press briefing said those killed included protesters and police officers, NaN reports.

Popular singer, Hachalu Hundessa, who focused on the rights of the country’s Oromo ethnic group and was a popular voice in protests which led to the downfall of the previous prime minister in 2018, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Monday.

Following his death, huge protests sprung up in Addis Ababa, the capital city and Oromia region.

According to media reports, the authorities shut down the internet in parts of the country on Tuesday to curb the spread of the protests