Indigenous communities in Guerrero report that the criminal group Los Ardillos launched armed attacks that displaced hundreds of families this week [1].

The violence highlights a deepening humanitarian crisis in the low-mountain region, where indigenous populations face systemic displacement and death despite government promises of protection.

Reports indicate the attacks spanned five consecutive days [4], occurring between May 9 and May 13 [2]. The violence has resulted in 76 deaths and 25 missing persons [4]. The assaults targeted the communities of Tula, Xicotlán, Acahuetán/Acahuehuetlán, and Chilapa [1, 3].

Local leaders, including Jesús Plácido Valerio of the Consejo Indígena y Popular-Emiliano Zapata (Cipog-EZ), said the attacks were carried out with the compliance of three levels of government [3]. The criminal group reportedly used drones to coordinate or execute the assaults [3].

The scale of the displacement is significant. While some reports cite 800 families forced from their homes [1], other accounts state more than 1,000 families have been displaced [5]. In total, four communities have been completely displaced [4].

Community representatives said the violence is linked to the gang's efforts to maintain control and execute extortion schemes in the region [6]. These events follow previous commitments from President Claudia Sheinbaum to address the security situation in Guerrero [2].

Plácido Valerio said the government's inaction has allowed the violence to escalate. The displaced families continue to seek safety as the criminal group maintains its grip on the region's low-mountain territory [3, 6].

“"con la complacencia de los tres niveles de gobierno"”

The escalation of violence by Los Ardillos, specifically the use of surveillance or attack drones, signals a technological shift in how criminal organizations exert territorial control over marginalized indigenous populations. The discrepancy in displacement numbers—ranging from 800 to over 1,000 families—reflects the chaos of the forced migrations and the difficulty of tracking victims in remote regions of Guerrero.