ZIHUATANEJO, Guerrero — Approximately 150 residents from five communities in the western mountains of Zihuatanejo have abandoned their homes following threats and incursions by organized crime groups, according to reports from the local outlet El Sur.

The affected inhabitants—from the communities of San Ignacio, El Mamey, La Vainilla, Pie de la Cuesta, and El Puertecito—stated that the situation reached a breaking point in recent days after armed men entered San Ignacio and occupied a local primary school.

One of the displaced residents explained that the majority of families in the area rely on livestock farming. He revealed that a criminal cell operating in the region began harassing the community as early as 2021. According to his testimony, the residents were recently forced to pay an extortion fee for every kilogram of beef they commercialized, significantly increasing the pressure on local livelihoods.

The situation escalated last Wednesday when a group of armed men arrived in San Ignacio and took over the school. Residents reported being unable to travel to urban areas to obtain food, forcing them to contact relatives to share the news of their predicament.

The displaced resident noted that families were caught in the crossfire of a conflict between rival groups. “They have been fighting,” he related, explaining that residents had to find ways to seek help while remaining in the community under threat.

Military forces arrived in the area on Saturday, October 3. However, the armed men had already vacated the premises before the soldiers reached the location. The displaced resident stated that the military told them they could not remain in the highlands and offered to escort them out of their communities.

In San Ignacio alone, there were 17 inhabited houses, 16 of which were abandoned; only one elderly couple chose to stay. As families began to descend from the mountains, residents from other nearby communities also fled their homes. Many families relocated to Pantla, where they remain with relatives while awaiting guarantees of safety to return.

“We would much rather have the federal government provide us with security than just social programs,” the resident expressed, emphasizing that families need the security to continue their work and maintain their productive activities.

The residents highlighted that this was not a recent development. The resident explained that they have suffered harassment from a criminal group since 2021. They had previously attempted to organize through a civil association, Asociación Civil Ranchos Unidos de la Costa Grande de Guerrero, to protect the area. However, the organization was reportedly weakened after several leaders were assassinated and others were co-opted by criminal groups.

The primary concern for the displaced families is now the livestock they were forced to leave behind. The resident explained that the animals represent years of labor and the primary asset of the farming families, and they have requested government assistance to return to the mountains to recover their herds.

The displaced residents also questioned the security strategy, noting that the military escorted them out of their homes rather than remaining in the area to ensure they could continue living and working there. The resident declined to confirm any specific agreements between authorities and criminal groups but questioned the effectiveness of the current security approach.