In a harrowing incident, the mother of Liverpool’s Colombian winger, Luis Diaz, was successfully rescued from her captors on Saturday, but the search continues for his father, as confirmed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
President Petro relayed the news through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that Diaz’s mother was liberated from captivity in Barrancas, located in the northern region of the country. He further mentioned, “We continue in the search for the father.”
Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office has been diligently working on this case and is committed to resolving it. The office conveyed, “From the moment the Attorney General’s Office learned of the kidnapping of the parents of the Colombian player Luis Diaz, in the Barrancas sector of La Guajira, a specialized team of prosecutors, police, and military personnel have been working to find the location of these individuals, clarify the facts, and identify those responsible.”
According to local media reports, the abduction occurred when Luis Manuel Diaz and Cilenis Marulanda were at a service station in the La Guajira area when armed individuals on motorcycles forcibly took them.
General William Salamanca, the director of the police, informed that intelligence agents and other police units have been mobilized in the area to address the situation. He revealed that the police are actively involved in setting up checkpoints and identifying individuals on motorcycles and public-service vehicles to facilitate the recovery of the two kidnapped individuals – the father and mother of the footballer Luis Diaz.
The Governor of La Guajira, Diala Wilches, strongly condemned the abduction and made a heartfelt plea for their safe and prompt return. She stated, “To the kidnappers, we demand that they return them immediately, safe and sound.”
Luis Diaz, the 26-year-old winger who plays for Liverpool and represents Colombia, has refrained from commenting on the matter. Diaz has made 43 appearances for the Colombian national team and joined Liverpool in the previous year after transferring from Porto.
Liverpool Football Club issued a statement acknowledging their awareness of the ongoing situation involving Luis Diaz’s family. The club expressed hope for a swift and safe resolution to the matter and assured that the welfare of the player remains their immediate priority. Liverpool is scheduled to play against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.
