According to the Ethiopian Human Rights Project (EHRP), he was beaten by a person using a stick, and his feet were whipped by someone using a computer plug cable. 
Kwa mujibu wa Mradi wa Haki za Binadamu wa Ethiopia (EHRP), Abel alipigwa na mtu kwa kutumia fimbo na mwingine aliichapa miguu yake mara kwa mara kwa kutumia waya wa kuchajia ngamizi.