ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Saturday warned that vigilante violence in various parts of the country is endangering the rule of law of the country.

Speaking during an inauguration event for Ethiopian Defense Forces staff in Addis Ababa, Ahmed said vigilante violence based on wrong information is costing the lives and properties of Ethiopians.

Ahmed said the increasing tendency to use vigilante violence has the potential to destroy the country and the government is working to put those who resort to mob violence to attack others to justice.

Ethiopia is reeling from a week of vigilante violence in various parts of the country, with photos of lynching, beatings and burning of religious institutions, shocking many in the east African country of around 100 million people.

The vigilante violence mostly based on ethnic and religious lines have put into question the stability of Ethiopia which already hosts around 2.8 million Internally Displaced Persons.