Colombian army rescues 2 FARC hostages

Colombian armed forces have rescued two men who were kidnapped by guerrilla group FARC in January, local media reported Saturday.

According to reports, the 82-year old cattle farmer and his driver were found after army operations on the border of the Huila, Caqueta and Putumayo departments.

“I spent a month among chickens. They made us sleep between cows and pigs,” former hostage Agustin Gonzalez told the press in his home department of Huila shortly after his rescue.

“They said they were going to kill us … there was this boy of like 13 years old who said he was going to kill us,” Gonzalez said.

According to newspaper El Tiempo, the FARC had demanded a $3 thousand ransom for the release of the cattle farmer and his driver.

The FARC is suspected to hold dozens of civilians hostage for extortion purposes, a practice used by the guerrilla group for decades to fund their fight against the Colombian state.

Related posts

Former top Petro aide jailed amid corruption probe

Former Medellin Cartel boss te return to Colombia on December 12

Colombia’s police raid 11 prisons in attempt to curb extortion