ADVERTISEMENT

Government arrests suspected Ecuadoran press team kidnapper

Gustavo Angulo, who goes by the name Cherry, was arrested on Tuesday following an operation in La Guayacana, on the border with Ecuador, defense minister Luis Carlos Villegas said in a press conference.

Reporter Javier Ortega, 32, photographer Paul Rivas, 45, and their driver Efrain Segarra 60, who worked for Ecuador's influential El Comercio newspaper, were abducted on March 26 while covering a story on violence along the border.

Their bodies were found on June 22.

The kidnapping prompted Colombia and Ecuador to sends troops to the border area to track down the perpetrators, but the following month a couple was taken from the same area before their bodies were found two weeks ago.

ADVERTISEMENT

Angulo "was the one who allegedly intercepted the truck" the press team were travelling in, Villegas added.

They were then handed over to the Oliver Sinisterra Front led by ex-FARC guerrilla Walther Arizala, who goes by the alias Gaucho and has rejected the peace deal signed by his former comrades to end a half century armed conflict with the government.

The militants had demanded the release of Arizala allies captured in Ecuador in exchange for the liberation of the press team.

The thick jungle border area has been wracked by drug-related violence ever since FARC transformed itself into a political party following the landmark December 2016 peace accord.

A week ago, three policemen were murdered in La Guayacana by suspected Arizala allies.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Perpetrators must face the law - Plateau com demands Justice for minor's murder

Perpetrators must face the law - Plateau com demands Justice for minor's murder

Peter Obi breaking fast with Muslims in Abuja mosque gets Nigerians talking

Peter Obi breaking fast with Muslims in Abuja mosque gets Nigerians talking

Video of weird school competition shows young students licking one another's feet

Video of weird school competition shows young students licking one another's feet

UniCal records highest number of first class graduates in 49 years

UniCal records highest number of first class graduates in 49 years

Army announces names of 17 soldiers killed in shocking Delta attack

Army announces names of 17 soldiers killed in shocking Delta attack

Ooni wants Ile-Ife, Modakeke indigenes to live together peacefully

Ooni wants Ile-Ife, Modakeke indigenes to live together peacefully

'Politics is not about being negative every time' — Peter Obi

'Politics is not about being negative every time' — Peter Obi

Army thinks Okuama community planned shocking murder of 16 soldiers in Delta

Army thinks Okuama community planned shocking murder of 16 soldiers in Delta

27,600 Benue women to receive grants, loans for business growth, self reliant

27,600 Benue women to receive grants, loans for business growth, self reliant

Pulse Sports

Super Eagles Bright Osayi-Samuel punches pitch invader as violence erupts following Trabzonspor vs Fenerbahce

Super Eagles Bright Osayi-Samuel punches pitch invader as violence erupts following Trabzonspor vs Fenerbahce

Naija Stars Abroad: Moffi, Chukwueze battle Oshoala, Echegini for POTW

Naija Stars Abroad: Moffi, Chukwueze battle Oshoala, Echegini for POTW

Report: Super Eagles get new coach for Ghana and Mali clash

Report: Super Eagles get new coach for Ghana and Mali clash

Osimhen misses out on N17b payday after Napoli's UCL loss to Barcelona

Osimhen misses out on N17b payday after Napoli's UCL loss to Barcelona

‘Thank you’ - Osimhen’s girlfriend Stefanie Ladewig grateful for being the mother of his child

‘Thank you’ - Osimhen’s girlfriend Stefanie Ladewig grateful for being the mother of his child

4 reasons why Victor Osimhen should choose Arsenal over Chelsea, Manchester United and PSG

4 reasons why Victor Osimhen should choose Arsenal over Chelsea, Manchester United and PSG

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT