Fear in Nariño as crossfire confines 7,800 residents in El Peñol and closes access road

Residents of El Peñol are sheltering in their homes as intense fighting between Colombia’s army and an illegal armed group blocks the road into the municipality. The clashes began early Friday, Sept. 4, in the rural area of the Nariño municipality, which has about 7,800 inhabitants.

The army’s Third Division said soldiers from Rapid Deployment Force No. 2 were battling armed men believed to belong to the Franco Benavides structure, a FARC dissident group. The military said its offensive was intended to preserve territorial control, counter illegal armed groups and protect communities in the region.

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The troops are maintaining the offensive in the area with the aim of preserving territorial control, countering the actions of illegal armed groups and protecting the communities in this part of the department.

No deaths or injuries had been reported at the time of publication. But the fighting put rural communities on maximum alert. Residents remained confined inside their homes to avoid the crossfire, amid fears that continued hostilities could trigger mass displacement.

The municipal administration of Los Andes-Sotomayor announced that the road connecting Los Andes with El Peñol had been closed because of the fighting and the resulting public-order situation. It urged people not to use the route until authorities issued new information, warning them not to risk being caught in the gunfire.

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For security reasons, residents are advised to avoid traveling along this route until further official information, in order to prevent any harm or situation that could put inhabitants’ safety at risk.