Communities in Shock as Violence Erupts in Santander de Quilichao and Miranda
In a harrowing turn of events, the north of Cauca witnessed two brutal massacres within a span of less than 24 hours over the weekend, sending shockwaves through the communities of Santander de Quilichao and Miranda.
The first incident occurred in Santander de Quilichao around midnight on Sunday, November 5. Three lives were tragically cut short as armed assailants entered a local nightclub in the urban area of the Mondomo district, opening fire indiscriminately. The victims were identified as 18-year-old Iván Ramiro Camayo Yule, 20-year-old Anderson Duvan Poscué Camayo, and 32-year-old José Arbey Beltrán Dagua. Additionally, Eider Fernández Daza sustained injuries and was promptly taken to a healthcare facility in the northern part of the department.
Simultaneously, the Association of Indigenous Cabildos of the north of Cauca (Acin) reported another alarming incident. In the ancestral territory of Munchique Los Tigres, in the veredas Arauca and Guaitalá, unidentified armed groups established an illegal checkpoint, sparking clashes with another group. Approximately 40 families are now confined to their homes, prompting urgent calls for humanitarian intervention in the region.
The second massacre unfolded in Miranda on Saturday, November 4, outside a local school in the sector of Calle Mocha, a few meters from the Mariscal Sucre Educational Institution. Witnesses described a horrifying scene where individuals engaged in conversation were targeted by heavily armed men. Despite attempts to escape, three individuals lost their lives on the spot.
The victims were identified as Mauricio Tigreros, Jhony Hernando Marulanda Guzmán, and a third person known to the community as a local mechanic. Tributes on social media have identified the mechanic as Castor, emphasizing his reputation as a good person.
The devastating events have left both communities in mourning, underscoring the urgent need for increased security measures and humanitarian aid in the affected areas. Authorities are actively investigating these incidents, and the communities await justice for the lives lost in this tragic spate of violence.