For the moment, the departmental Police has not made any statement regarding the kidnapping of the 76-year-old man
But Irenio Bohórquez is not the only member of the family who is being held. “It is not fair that the same family today has two adults over 70 years of age kidnapped. Mr. Irenio Bohórquez yesterday (Wednesday) and Mr. Evangelista Bohórquez 26 months ago,” assured Juan Carlos Santamaría, a friend of the hostage.
Irenio Bohórquez is 76 years old, works as a agriculture in the municipality of Ocaña (Norte Santander) and has been kidnapped three times in his life, the last one, last Wednesday, June 1, 2022. According to his relatives, two men arrived at the Bohórquez farm and with the excuse that he would give them two glasses of water, they held him at gunpoint and put him in a van to later transfer him to the Catatumbo area.
“He spent his time here cutting bananas, pulling yucca and selling it, also cutting grass to feed the animals. That’s his life. He is a man of work and very quiet in life, ”Pablo Emilio Vega, brother-in-law of the victim, told the local media outlet O & N TV.
The victim’s relative indicated that the kidnapping occurred around 5 pm last Wednesday. He also specified that the kidnappers reached the village of El Uvito, belonging to the district of Aguas Claras, jurisdiction of the Convention, and took their loved one away.
The first time that Irenio Bohórquez was kidnapped was in 2018. On that occasion, the criminals used a modus operandi similar to that of last Wednesday. The peasant was released on March 21, 2019. His brother-in-law stated that on previous occasions this The older adult had been released for humanitarian reasons, since he suffers from several illnesses, such as hypertension and joint pain, for which he cannot be subjected to long walks.
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The second time he was kidnapped, it was on Tuesday 28 July 2020 at night.That day, armed men gagged all the inhabitants of the house where Bohórquez was staying and took him away. He was released on August 4 of that same year.
At the moment, the Norte de Santander Police have not made any statement regarding the kidnapping of the 76-year-old man . It should be noted that illegal armed groups such as the ELN, the FARC dissidents and Los Pelusos operate in this area of the country.
In his communication with the local media, the kidnapped man’s brother-in-law asked that, “please, respect his life, that he is a human being just like them. They also need the things of God and that they repent better “, he asserted.
Meanwhile, the representative of Ocaña, Jorge Bohórquez, lamented the facts and asked for respect for the life of the farmer. “We have been requesting an increase in the foot of force in different security councils and once again this delicate fact occurs in the Aguas Claras township.”.
For its part, the Government of Norte de Santander joined the call for solidarity through its official Twitter account. “We forcefully reject the possible kidnapping of farmer Irenio Bohórquez de Ocaña and ask that his life and integrity be respected and that he be returned immediately to his home,” he said.
But Irenio Bohórquez is not the only member of his family who is being held. “It is not fair that the same family today has two adults over 70 years of age kidnapped. Mr. Irenio Bohórquez the day before yesterday (Wednesday) and Mr. Evangelista Bohórquez,” assured Juan Carlos Santamaría, a friend of the hostage.
The retention of 71-year-old Evangelista Bohórquez was produced on March 19, 2020. This man’s family have requested proof of survival as they have not received any since the time he was taken away 26 months ago.