New video footage has surfaced, allegedly showing FARC dissidents transporting and interrogating eight Christian leaders shortly before executing them and burying them in a mass grave in Colombia. The footage, recovered from a captured guerrilla’s phone, adds new evidence in a case that has drawn national and international attention due to concerns over religious freedom and armed group violence.
Victims Targeted and Misidentified
The eight victims—Isaid Gómez, Maribel Silva, Carlos Valero, James Caicedo, Jesús Valero, Maryuri Hernández, Nixon Peñalosa, and Oscar García—were all members of the Evangelical councils Alianza de Colombia and Cuadrangular. They had previously fled Arauca after threats from the National Liberation Army (ELN), only to be abducted in Guaviare. Authorities say they were mistakenly identified as ELN members by a faction of FARC dissidents operating under Iván Mordisco.
Despite the dissidents’ claim, prosecutors confirmed the victims had no connection to the ELN. The Christian leaders were summoned individually in early April and later executed at close range after being restrained with chains and ropes.
Footage Reveals Timeline and Location
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported that the video shows the leaders being transported along the Itilla River to La Ojona farm, near where their bodies were found. The armed men can be seen photographing and interrogating them. Their remains were discovered three months later, on July 1, in a mass grave in Calamar, Guaviare, after the arrest of a guerrilla fighter led investigators to the site.
Formal Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Authorities charged Excehomo Pabón Amaya, known as “Morocho,” on Nov. 25 with homicide, forced disappearance, aggravated conspiracy, and illegal arms possession. He is allegedly part of the Armando Ríos Front, a dissident group that rejected FARC’s 2016 peace agreement. Prosecutors are continuing efforts to identify all parties involved in the killings.
Supporters Demand Justice and Accountability
Anna Lee Stangl of CSW welcomed the progress but urged Colombian officials to ensure full accountability. She questioned the alleged mistaken identity, noting that armed groups like ELN and FARC have targeted Protestant leaders for decades. Human rights groups continue to warn of religious persecution in conflict zones.
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8 Colombian Christian Leaders Executed by Armed Men; Authorities Charge FARC Dissident
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