Colombia says 57 soldiers kidnapped by civilians

The army of Colombia claims that 57 soldiers were kidnapped by civilians in the southwest region of Micay Canyon.

He indicates that 31 soldiers were seized on Saturday while the others were kidnapped on Sunday by a group of more than 200 people.

The army states that civilians act under pressure from the dissidents of the Rebel group of the FARC which concluded a peace agreement with the government in 2016.

The mountainous region is a key area for cocaine production and remains one of the most tense of the country’s continuous conflict with rebel groups.

In a video declaration on social networks, Brig Gen Federico Alberto Mejia said that four non-commissioned officers and 53 soldiers had been seized during the weekend.

“This is called kidnapping,” he said.

Reports in the local media suggest that the rebel group EMC – the largest branch of the FARC – may have ordered the kidnappings.

The EMC did not comment on the question.

The Canyon Micay is used to transport cocaine to Pacific ports, and drugs are then illegally shipped to other countries.