255 assassinations have been registered in Cordoba department, North Colombia, in 2009, El Universal reported Wednesday. In April alone, 72 people were murdered.
In the same time period of 2008, the government reported 242 assassinations.
41 people were killed in January 2009, 47 in Feburary and 70 in March. 25 murders were registered in May so far.
The majority of the assassinations in the first five months of 2009 were acted out by drug trafficking gangs, an analysis of the local authority indicates.