Mass Grave Discovery in Colombia: Eight Christian Leaders Found Dead

Colombian authorities discovered a mass grave containing the bodies of eight Christian religious leaders on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in a rural area of Calamar municipality, Guaviare Department, marking the deadliest massacre in Colombia this year.

The Victims

The eight victims, all from the hamlet of Agua Bonita in Pueblo Seco, Calamar, were identified as:

• Jesús Valero
• Carlos Valero
• Maribel Silva
• Isaíd Gómez
• Maryuri Hernández
• Óscar Hernández
• James Caicedo
• Nixon Peñaloza Chacón

All were social or religious leaders associated with two Protestant denominations: the Evangelical Alliance of Colombia Denomination (DEAC) and the Foursquare Gospel Church (ICCG). The group had been missing since early April 2025.

The Disappearance

According to Colombia's Attorney General's Office, the victims were summoned to meetings by FARC dissidents in early April. Three individuals—Isaíd Gómez, Maribel Silva, and Carlos Valero—responded to summonses on April 4. The remaining five were called the following day on April 5.

When the group failed to return home, family members sought out representatives of the illegal armed group. The organization initially denied issuing any summonses but later indirectly warned families to stop searching and "consider the case to be closed."

Investigation Findings

Prosecutors determined that the victims were executed by the Armando Ríos Front, a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), operating under the command of Néstor Gregorio Vera Fernández, alias "Iván Mordisco."

According to the investigation, the killings were allegedly intended to block the emergence of a rival National Liberation Army (ELN) cell in the region, though authorities found no evidence linking the victims to any guerrilla group.

Regional Security Crisis

The discovery has highlighted the ongoing security crisis in Guaviare Department, where rival dissident factions loyal to "Iván Mordisco" and another leader known as "Calarcá" have been engaged in territorial disputes.

Farid Camilo Castaño, the mayor of Calamar, expressed frustration with what he described as government abandonment of the region. "There is mourning in Calamar, but also deep pain and indignation," Castaño told Caracol Radio. "One of the greatest frustrations we have as local leaders is the complete abandonment we feel."

The mayor criticized President Gustavo Petro for promoting community festivities in Guaviare while local authorities were warning of rising violence and kidnappings.

Colombia's Largest Massacre of 2025

According to the Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz), this incident represents the largest massacre in Colombia for 2025. More than 30 multiple homicides have been recorded in rural areas this year, particularly in regions with territorial disputes between FARC and ELN dissidents.

The Ombudsman's Office had issued early warnings about escalating violence in Guaviare due to fighting between rival dissident factions, but state security presence remains limited in many parts of the department.

Targeting of Christian Leaders

The tragedy underscores the particular vulnerability of Christian leaders in Colombia's conflict zones. According to Open Doors' 2025 World Watch Report, Christians in Colombia face targeting from drug cartels and guerrilla groups because they oppose these organizations.

"Church leaders are particularly at risk because they are seen as competing for influence over young people who are often targeted for recruitment by guerrilla groups," the Christian support organization noted.

Government and Religious Response

President Gustavo Petro condemned the killings in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "These acts are a grave affront to the right to life, religious freedom, and the spiritual and community work that so many people carry out in regions historically ravaged by violence."

The Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL) issued a strong condemnation of the crime and expressed solidarity with the victims' families. The organization called for prayers for peace and demanded that authorities ensure these crimes do not go unpunished.

"We ask for prayer for peace and consolation to these families; We raise a firm voice of clamor and demand to the authorities so that these crimes do not go unpunished," CEDECOL stated.

Three Days of Mourning

The municipality of Calamar has declared three days of official mourning following the exhumation of the bodies. The local population, described as mostly rural and deeply religious, has reacted with sorrow and fear.

Churches from both affected denominations have been holding daily prayer vigils since the disappearances were first reported in April. "Fear is in all of us," a local source told Christian Solidarity Worldwide, "and although we trust that God is righteous and never abandons us, there are circumstances that can happen, such as the death of our brothers and sisters."

The breakthrough in the case came after a humanitarian mission by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the release of two kidnapping victims, leading to the discovery of the mass grave.