Several European organizations defending human rights denounced that on March 26, an attack was carried out against Gabriel Marrugo, leader of the Association of Indigenous Councils of Bajo Atrato (Camizba).
The incident occurred when Marrugo was traveling with his escort from the National Protection Unit from Quibdó to the indigenous community of El 20. He was shot three times, one of the shots hitting his body. Gabriel was saved by the bulletproof vest he was wearing, but he was injured by a 9mm pistol bullet and was hospitalized in Quibdó. The shots were fired by armed men wearing balaclavas aboard a black XTZ motorcycle. The escort repelled the attack, but the attackers escaped.
Gabriel Marrugo is part of the Forest Guardians network, created in 2019 by the RESEDA Eco-Institute to support activists who defend the Planet’s primary forests. In addition to his work in Camizba, he has worked in the Artisans for Life collective in Riosucio (Chocá), the coordinator of the Ethnic Communities of the Department of Choco of the Women’s Association of Victoria de San Isidro (ASOMAVIC).
Marrugo traveled to Europe in 2020 as a leader at risk and as part of a temporary protection project for threatened activists.
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