In a harrowing incident that unfolded this Monday, January 15, in the municipality of Cali, Valle del Cauca, a horrifying massacre claimed the lives of three individuals, as reported by the Institute of Studies for Development and Peace (Indepaz).
Authorities disclosed that the multiple murders occurred in the El Cabuyal district, where a group of people attending a funeral came under fire from a van. The victims, identified as Breiner Steven Mina Rojas, Herme Eduardo Brichez, and Juan Diego Morales, suffered fatal injuries, while six others were wounded in the armed attack.
Notably, the Defensoría del Pueblo had issued an early warning regarding nationwide risks stemming from the presence of armed actors. The alert emphasized the threats to the population arising from clashes between illegal structures, illicit economies such as drug trafficking, and extortion.
Indepaz highlights the alarming surge in violence in urban areas attributed to the actions of local gangs vying for dominance. In this region of the country, the ‘Jaime Martínez’ column of the Western Block of the Central Military High Command, comprising dissidents from the FARC under the command of ‘Iván Mordisco,’ operates.
This tragic massacre not only underscores the immediate impact on the community but also raises broader concerns about the ongoing challenges to peace and security in the region. The grief-stricken municipality now grapples with the aftermath of this brutal incident, renewing fears about escalating violence and its toll on the local population.