Óscar Antonio Montilla Iriarte, a councilman from Calamar, Bolívar, was tragically murdered on Monday while working at his cheese shop in Soledad, a municipality in the Atlántico department of Colombia. According to reports from the regional newspaper El Universal, the attack involved three men who entered the shop under the pretext of being customers. One of them entered first, followed by another armed man who then shot Montilla multiple times.

Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Montilla's death, with initial findings suggesting that extortion may be a potential motive for the crime. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement officials have arrested at least three individuals believed to be connected to the murder. This incident highlights the pervasive issue of violence faced by politicians in Colombia, where criminal intimidation and extortion are significant problems.

The murder of a local political figure like Montilla raises serious concerns about the safety of elected officials in the country, especially in regions plagued by violence and crime. As investigations continue, the case may shed light on the broader issues of political violence and extortion in Colombia, which could influence local governance and community safety efforts.