Gunmen have killed the mayor of San Mateo Piñas, Lilia Gema García Soto, in a brazen attack on the village hall. Witnesses described the horrifying scene, saying four armed men arrived on motorcycles, stormed the hall, and opened fire on García Soto and a local official, Eli García Ramírez, who was meeting with her. Two municipal police officers were also injured in the attack.
The motive behind the killing is still under investigation, but local officials are often targeted by criminal gangs for failing to do their bidding. García Soto is the second mayor to be killed in Oaxaca state this year, following the ambush killing of the mayor of Santiago Amoltepec in May. The governor of Oaxaca has condemned the latest killing, vowing that the crime will not go unpunished.
The state prosecutor’s office has deployed federal agents to the area to help locate the four gunmen, who escaped after the attack. Violence against local politicians and those running for office in Mexico has been on the rise in recent years, particularly in small towns where organized crime groups hold significant sway. The recent escalation of violence in the capital, where two top aides of the mayor of Mexico City were shot dead, has shocked the country.
The killing of García Soto is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by local officials in Mexico and the need for effective measures to protect them. As the investigation continues, the authorities will be under pressure to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent further attacks.
The attack on Mayor Lilia Gema García Soto is a disturbing reminder of the risks faced by local officials in Mexico, particularly in regions dominated by organized crime groups. The governor of Oaxaca has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, and federal agents have been deployed to aid in the investigation. However, the frequency of such attacks raises concerns about the effectiveness of current measures to protect officials and ensure their safety.