Wife of Colombian Mayor of Uribia Kidnapped Outside Gym: 300-Million-Peso Reward as Colombia and Venezuela Coordinate Search

Nancy Gómez Sánchez, the wife of Jaime Luis Buitrago, mayor of Uribia in Colombia's La Guajira department, was forced into a white pickup truck by several armed men outside a gym in the town on the morning of November 11. Uribia's government secretary, René Lindarte, confirmed the kidnapping, and Colombia's National Police and Army launched a search.

Gómez, 43, is a social worker who serves as the municipality's social manager and is a mother of two. She was intercepted at about 6:10 a.m. as she left the gym after her morning workout. Uribia lies about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the Venezuelan border, and authorities fear the kidnappers may take her into Venezuela. President Abelardo de la Espriella ordered troops and police to seal off border routes and said initial indications pointed to the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group, while stressing that the attribution was still being verified.

Mayor Buitrago said his wife had previously received threats after publicly backing the families of kidnapping victims and demanding action against the gangs responsible. The government of La Guajira has offered a reward of 300 million Colombian pesos for information leading to her rescue.

Reuters reported on November 12 that Colombia's foreign ministry had spoken with Venezuela's government to coordinate efforts to rescue Gómez. Colombia is also seeking Venezuelan help to locate an army officer kidnapped by the ELN on November 4 in Saravena, in the border department of Arauca. The two countries share a border of about 2,219 kilometres. Gómez's whereabouts remained unknown as of publication.

(Source: Reuters)

Source: Reuters

Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：哥伦比亚陆军士兵在演练中自直升机机动（资料图）。本站档案图复用。 / Photo: Colombian Army soldiers maneuver from a helicopter during an exercise (file photo). GSM archive reuse.