Three petrol workers, employed by a company contracted by Colombia’s state-run oil enterprise Ecopetrol, were kidnapped by an armed group, Colombian media reported.
The kidnapping took place in a rural area of the northeastern department of Santander, between the towns of Puerto Wilches and Barrancabermeja. The rebels from the FARC and the ELN are known to be present in the area although military authorities and the police have not held any group responsible for the hostage-taking, magazine Terra reported.
According to the interior secretary for the department, Constantino Tami, the kidnapped men worked for Petroseismic and the departmental government is in contact with the police and the armed forces to move forward with the rescue of the hostages.
Five oil workers kidnapped by the FARC in July in the east of Colombia were released in August. Four Chinese oil workers kidnapped by the FARC are still being held by the rebel group.
Update
New information from newspaper El Espectador reveals the abduction was committed by four armed men. Constantino Tami said a possible reason behind the attack is extorsion. The three workers are Colombian.
