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At least 39 people allegedly kidnapped by ELN in Colombia's Chocó department
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

At least 39 people allegedly kidnapped by ELN in Colombia's Chocó department

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • At least 39 people, including a minor, were allegedly kidnapped by the ELN guerrilla group in Colombia's Chocó department.
  • The abductions occurred on a road in the Toldas sector, between Quibdó and Carmen de Atrato.
  • Authorities have demanded the ELN release the hostages immediately and unconditionally.

At least 39 individuals, including a minor, have reportedly been kidnapped by the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group in Colombia's northwestern Chocó department. The alleged abductions took place on a highway in the Toldas area, situated along the route between Quibdó and Carmen de Atrato.

The Seventh Division of the Colombian Army condemned the incident, stating, "We reject and condemn the kidnapping of 39 people, including a minor, who were abducted by alleged members of the organized armed group ELN in the Toldas sector, on the road Quibdó–Carmen de Atrato, Chocó."

Authorities issued a strong demand to the ELN, calling for the "respect of the lives and integrity of the detained persons and their immediate and unconditional release." This incident follows a similar event just a week prior, where the ELN allegedly detained eight people under comparable circumstances in the neighboring Cauca department, who remain in captivity.

We reject and condemn the kidnapping of 39 people, including a minor, who were abducted by alleged members of the organized armed group ELN in the Toldas sector, on the road Quibdó–Carmen de Atrato, Chocó.

— Seventh Division of the ArmyOfficial statement from the Colombian Army condemning the mass kidnapping.

Human rights organizations, the Ombudsman's Office, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights had previously called for urgent measures to protect communities and investigate the earlier abductions in Cauca. As of Tuesday, these entities had not yet issued statements regarding the new mass kidnapping in Chocó.

The ELN is described as Colombia's last major active guerrilla group and one of Latin America's most powerful illegal armed organizations, with an estimated membership exceeding 6,000, according to the Foundation InSight Crime. Peace negotiations between the ELN and President Gustavo Petro's government began early in his term in 2022 but were frozen in 2025 and have not been reactivated.

respect of the lives and integrity of the detained persons and their immediate and unconditional release.

— AuthoritiesDemand issued to the ELN for the safe release of the kidnapped individuals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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