Fear and terror persist among displaced people in Guerrero; they demand the dismantling of Los Ardillos.
Forced displacement in the Sierra and Montaña Baja regions of Guerrero has recently intensified due to a territorial offensive by the criminal group “Los Ardillos” in its dispute with “Los Tlacos.”
Nahua indigenous communities have been victims of direct armed attacks and drone bombings, causing the exodus of hundreds of families. Affected Area and Populations: The violence is concentrated mainly on the border between the municipalities of Chilapa de Álvarez and José Joaquín de Herrera.
Entire towns such as Tula, Xicotlán, Acahuehuetlán, and Alcozacán have been partially deserted and semi-destroyed. Indigenous residents have reported that, for years, they have suffered dozens of murders and disappearances for opposing the control of these groups.
Modus Operandi and Criminal Actions
Criminal organizations use extreme terror tactics to force communities to abandon their lands: direct attacks with explosives launched from drones, arson of homes, and sieges with high-caliber weapons.
Extortion and threats of forced recruitment of young people.
Institutional Response
Federal authorities, including the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) and the Secretariat of the Interior (SEGOB), have confirmed the displacement of nearly one hundred people, as initially counted, and have deployed the National Guard and the Mexican Army.
While the federal government has led caravans to facilitate the return of some families and the establishment of operational bases, civil organizations and the Indigenous and Popular Council of Guerrero (Cipog-EZ) denounce the aid as insufficient and accuse the authorities of omission, historical omissions, and an inability to guarantee their long-term security.
