Colombian guerrillas free kidnapped boy held for 18 days

Lyan Hortua was taken in the southwestern Valle del Cauca region on May 3, in a country where a minor is abducted on average every two days, often to be trained as fighters.

The abduction occurred as Colombia confronts its biggest surge in violence since the FARC guerrilla group signed a peace deal in 2016 that was meant to end a decades-long conflict.

The boy was taken from his house at night along with his babysitter, who was freed hours later, according to the defense ministry.

His mother said at the time that Lyan suffered from an inflammation of the lungs and needed medicine.

His kidnapping prompted protests in the region for the respect of children's rights.

Colombia's human rights ombudsman said he was freed on Wednesday.

Prosecutors say more than 1,100 children were abducted by armed groups between 2019 and 2023.

From 1996 to 2016, when the FARC agreed to disarm, the number was as high as 23,800.