Hidalgo Education Secretary mourns brother's murder in Zacatecas

Natividad Castrejón Valdez, the Secretary of Public Education for the Mexican state of Hidalgo, has publicly expressed his grief following the murder of his brother, Ignacio Castrejón Valdez, in Zacatecas. The official lamented the violence that plagues the region and has now claimed a member of his family.

In a heartfelt message shared on social media, Castrejón Valdez stated, "There are goodbyes for which one is never prepared. Today I have to say goodbye to my dear brother Nacho, one of my twelve siblings, and the pain I feel is impossible to express in words."

He further emphasized his brother's deep connection to Sombrerete, his hometown, noting that Ignacio never wished to leave because his roots, history, and community were there. "Nacho's life cannot be understood without Sombrerete, nor today's Sombrerete without Nacho," the Secretary added.

Castrejón Valdez expressed his sorrow that the land his brother loved so dearly has been a victim of persistent violence for years, a violence that tragically took his brother's life. The family is reportedly devastated by this loss. Ignacio Castrejón Valdez previously served as the mayor of Sombrerete from 2016 to 2018, elected under the National Action Party (PAN).