Seventy-nine police officers freed after being taken hostage

BBC reported that Colombian President Gustavo Petro had said that a group of police officers and oilfield workers taken hostage during protests in Colombia’s southern Caquetá province have been freed.

Violence erupted on Thursday after residents blockaded an oil exploration company’s compound. They were demanding its help to build roads in the area.

Columbian leader Gustavo Petro had called for the 79 officers and nine Emerald Energy employees to be released.

A police officer and a civilian have  been killed during the unrest.

Announcing the release of the hostages, who were filmed sitting in a crowded room on the floor, President Petro called on investigators to find those responsible for the two deaths. Interior Minster Alfonso Prada said earlier on Friday that they were killed by gunfire.

Many of the protesters are rural and indigenous people who want Emerald Energy to build new road infrastructure around the San Vicente del Caguan area.