The San Ignacio City Council announced the cancellation of the national celebrations on September 15 and 16 due to the lack of security conditions in the region, which in recent weeks has been the scene of violence, armed confrontations, and forced displacement.
In a statement released on its official social media accounts, the municipal government, led by Mayor Luis Fernando Loaiza Bañuelos, reported that neither the Grito de Independencia ceremony nor the civic parade on September 16 will take place this year.
“After careful analysis and always considering the well-being of our people, the decision has been made to cancel the Grito de Independencia ceremony and the civic parade,” the official message stated.
Local authorities indicated that, although these celebrations are deeply significant for the community, currently “the appropriate conditions do not exist to carry them out with the joy, tranquility, and security that we all deserve.”
The decision comes amid rising violence in San Ignacio.
On Wednesday night, a State Preventive Police officer was kidnapped by armed civilians in the municipal seat while he was off duty. According to official reports, the perpetrators broke into his home and forcibly removed him before fleeing to an unknown destination.
The search operation, led by state and federal agencies, extended to rural areas of the municipality, although the officer’s whereabouts have not yet been reported.
This incident follows a violent day reported the same day in the state of Sinaloa, which included at least eight homicides, three kidnappings, and several vehicle thefts.
Displacement and fear in the mountains
Residents of San Ignacio reported that loud gunshots were heard again during the early hours of Thursday. For more than a month, shootings and explosions have been reported, causing the forced displacement of its residents.
Although classes in schools in the municipal seat were not suspended, parents expressed fear about the possibility of further violence, especially on the eve of the national holidays.
Although the Sinaloa State Government previously announced that the state’s 20 municipalities would deploy more than 10,000 security personnel to ensure the patriotic celebrations, the San Ignacio City Council maintained that its priority is to safeguard the population.
“This decision, although difficult, is made with the conviction that the most important thing is to take care of each and every one of you. Our commitment is to continue working for a better municipality,” the local government stated.
Finally, the City Council called on citizens to keep the essence of the national holidays alive from home, remembering the values of freedom, unity, and respect that define the Mexican identity.
Source: laopinion
