Sixteen teachers in the western Colombian department of Cauca were forced to flee their homes and jobs after receiving death threats, Colombian media reported Monday.
The teachers, who work in three rurally located schools in the municipality of Corinto, are reported to have all received the same threatening messages to their cell phones.
“We do not want you here. If you do not go your life will be a game,” said the anonymous messages.
According to Cauca’s education secretary, Deufan Silva, a special committee has been tasked with investigating the messages and ensuring the safety of the educators, many of whom have already fled Corinto, leaving some 600 students without a teacher.
It is not known who is responsible for the threats. Authorities say that there are various illegally armed groups active in the area, including drug-trafficking gangs and guerrilla groups the FARC and ELN.