Luis Diaz’s harrowing ordeal seems to have finally ended whose dad was previously kidnapped in Colombia almost two weeks ago. The football community stood with the Liverpool star as he also desperately pleaded for his father’s release.
Armed groups in Colombia conducted 160 kidnappings and carried out 121 releases between January 2022 and September 2023, indicating a significant rise in kidnapping incidents during this period. Luis Diaz’s dad, Manuel Diaz was their recent target but thankfully, he was eventually released, and his family are glad that the tragic incident is finally over.
Luis Díaz reunites with father Luis Manuel Díaz
It’s an emotional reunion for Liverpool star Luis Diaz as he is finally reunited with his father after a harrowing kidnapping ordeal. Luis Manuel Diaz Jimenez, the footballer’s father, had been held hostage for 12 days in a mountainous area of Colombia by a guerrilla group. The heart-wrenching situation has now thankfully come to an end, and tears flow as the father and son are finally back together.
The kidnapping incident took place on October 28 when Luis Diaz’s father, Luis Manuel Diaz Jimenez, along with Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was abducted by armed men on motorbikes at a petrol station in the town of Barrancas, near Colombia’s border with Venezuela. Fortunately, Ms. Marulanda was rescued within hours by the police, but Luis Diaz’s dad remained in the custody of the kidnappers.
Following Mr. Diaz Jimenez’s kidnapping, special forces initiated an extensive search operation in a mountain range that spans both Colombia and Venezuela. The family’s distressing experience has brought attention to the challenges and dangers faced by individuals in such circumstances.
Shortly after the release, the Colombian football federation officially announced Luis Manuel Diaz Jimenez’s arrival in the city, extending a warm “welcome home Luchooo.” This heartfelt return coincides with the upcoming match between the Colombian national team and Brazil scheduled to take place in Barranquilla on Thursday as part of the South American qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup.
Why did Colombian rebels kidnap Luis Díaz’s father?
In a desperate plea, Luis Diaz had appealed to his father’s kidnappers for his release, expressing the anguish and desperation felt by him and his brothers to see their father safely returned.
Subsequently, the group responsible for the kidnapping acknowledged that it was a mistake, leading to an order from its top leadership for the release of Mr. Diaz Jimenez. However, it is quite difficult to confirm the truth or otherwise of this assertion.
According to Skysports reports, the abduction occurred during peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN (National Liberation Army), throwing the talks into a critical state.
The government is seeking assurances from the group to cease kidnappings and release any remaining captives, a pivotal issue that is likely to play a significant role in the upcoming rounds of discussions.
However, the incident has added complexity to the peace process, emphasizing the challenges faced in achieving a resolution between the Colombian government and the ELN.
The ELN has defended its use of kidnappings as a means of financing, asserting that it is a necessity due to its financial struggles, stating that the group is “poor like the majority of Colombians.”
Nevertheless, it is a relief to watch Luis Diaz reunite with his father and he can now finally focus on his professional career.
