Pastor Elfren Martínez Pérez was killed on 16 September outside his home in Antioquia, Colombia by members of an illegal armed group.
The pastor had pushed back against the presence of the illegal group, believed to be a neo-paramilitary group which is active in the region. A member of the community said he ‘would confront [the neo-paramilitary group]. They would approach him to tell him that they had arrived to protect the community, that only they could do it. He would reply saying that the community did not need this form of protection’.
Refusing demands
Earlier, the pastor had refused demands by the men to transport them on his boat. The men left, but returned at 7pm accompanied by two others on motorbikes. After calling Pastor Martínez Pérez out of his home, they reportedly said: ‘As you are a pastor, we will only shoot you once.’ One of the men then shot and killed him in front of his home.
