Kidnappers Of Liverpool Star, Luis Diaz’s Father Give Condition For His Release

The kidnappers of Manuel Diaz, who is the father of Liverpool winger, Luis Diaz, have made a demand from the Colombian government in the form of a deal to release the football player’s father.

Naija News recalls that the ELN guerrilla organization had abducted Diaz’s father nine days ago and has since slowed down on their initial promise of releasing him.

In a statement, however, signed by Commander Jose Manuel Martinez Quiroz, one of the group’s unit leaders, the guerrilla group has requested the suspension of security operations to prevent any further delays.

The statement reads: “On November 2, we informed the country of the decision to release Mr. Luis Manuel Díaz, father of the player Luis Díaz. From that date, we began the process to accomplish this as soon as possible. We are making efforts to avoid incidents with government forces.

“The area is still militarized, they are carrying out flyovers, disembarking troops, broadcasting and offering rewards as part of an intense search operation. This situation is not allowing for the execution of the release plan quickly and safely, where Mr Luis Manuel Díaz is not at risk.

“If operations continue in the area, they will delay the release and increase the risks. We understand the anguish of the Díaz Marulanda family, to whom we say that we will keep our word to release him unilaterally, as soon as we have security guarantees for the development of the liberation operation.”

Luis Diaz Begs Kidnappers To Release Father

After rescuing Liverpool from losing to Luton Town in the English Premier League match on Sunday evening, Luis Diaz begged the rebel group which kidnapped his father to release him.

Naija News reports that Diaz scored Liverpool’s late goal yesterday to equalize an early lead by Luton Town. The 26-year-old player had missed Liverpool’s last two matches but had been training since Thursday, and was selected on the bench for the match against Luton on Sunday.

Diaz was sent on the pitch in the 83rd minute as a late substitute and scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw for his team at Kenilworth Road. After scoring the goal, Diaz lifted his Liverpool shirt to reveal a white shirt that read “Libertad Para Papa”, or Freedom For Papa.”

Diaz followed that up with a social media post after the match. It reads: “Today the footballer is not speaking to you. Today Lucho Diaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz, is speaking to you. Mane, my dad, is a tireless worker, a pillar in the family and he has been kidnapped. I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father, and I ask international organizations to work together for his freedom.”

Both of Diaz’s parents were kidnapped in the small Colombian town of Barrancas on October 28, although his mother was rescued within hours by police.

The Colombian government, however, has said the armed rebel group the National Liberation Army, known as ELN, was responsible for last weekend’s kidnapping.

The peace delegation of the government, which is currently in negotiations with ELN, said in a statement on Thursday that it was “officially aware” that the kidnapping had been “perpetrated by a unit that belongs to ELN”.

Diaz said his family’s anguish has been growing “every second, every minute” since his father’s kidnapping.

“My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed and without words to describe what we are feeling. This suffering will only end when we have him back home. I beg you to release him immediately, respecting his integrity and ending this painful wait as soon as possible,” Diaz had said earlier.