Tour guide who had been held by armed groups in Santander was released

In recent hours, the Fifth Army Brigade confirmed the release of Daniel Fernando Silva, a tour guide who had been kidnapped by a criminal group in the Misiguay village, in the municipality of Rionegro (Santander).

The events occurred this Tuesday, when four armed men approached the sector to intimidate people who were on a farm. According to the photos released on social networks, the subjects were dressed in fatigue suits and balaclavas, and took the opportunity to steal televisions, cell phones and even a vehicle.

In the midst of the threats, the uniformed forced the tour guide to leave with them while he shared with a group of citizens from Sweden, Peru and Paraguay. Before starting their escape, the criminals cut the cables of the Internet service and painted graffiti alluding to the FARC on a backhoe.

“After hearing the community's complaint about the presence of armed men in that sector, a group of soldiers was deployed who pressured the criminals to release Diego Fernando Silva, who was detained for extortion purposes,” said the commander of the Fifth Brigade of the Army, General Servant Tulio Roa.

Likewise, the commander assured that “he is safe and sound, some minor injuries are not ruled out, but we are going to submit him to medical examinations”.

The authorities of the department reported that they are carrying out the operations to find the capture of the four subjects. There are still no certainties about the armed group they would be part of, because, according to the mayor of Rionegro, Rubén Darío Villabona, there are no reports of the presence of dissidents from the FARC or the National Liberation Army (ELN) in that town.

“At the moment they are ruled out that they are members of the FARC dissidents, because they came to the village to steal cell phones and other belongings of the inhabitants of the sector. They also damaged the electricity system,” said the local president, who also invited the population to report this type of incident through the free line 147.

After a series of attacks on oil infrastructure in the middle of Magdalena, authorities stated that there are traces of armed groups such as the ELN in Santander. Similarly, the Investigation and Accussion Chamber of the Special Justice for Peace (JEP) reported before Easter that, in recent months, this guerrilla group expanded in the region.

At least 70 visitors, who were on their way to the Lost City, had to be evacuated as a result of an operation by the Police and the National Army against the Conquering Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra (ACSN) in a sector known as 'Machete Pelao'.

The social leader and human rights defender, Leber Dimas, explained on W Radio how the events unfolded: “On the northeastern slope, which faces Ciudad Perdida, there was a confrontation between the conquering Self-Defence Forces of the Sierra and the Public Forces, as a result of which there is an injured officer and look like a dead person. It is said that he may be the commander of the conquering Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra, but that information is not confirmed.”

Dimas also confirmed the displacement of 570 people due to the clashes between 'Los Pachencas' and 'El Clan del Golfo', in rural Ciénaga. And, in addition, he assured that since 2008 a characterization report was made which showed that the 'Golf Clan' already had a presence in 16 of the 30 municipalities, including Santa Marta, a fact that has also been reflected in different areas of the department.

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