Retaliatory Violence Claims 25 Soldiers After “El Mencho” Killed
By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa
No fewer than 25 Mexican soldiers have been reportedly killed in a retaliatory attack o er the killing of drug kingpin, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as “El Mencho,”.
The 60-year-old kingpin was captured during a high-stakes raid by Mexican special forces in Tapalpa but succumbed to injuries sustained during the operation.
The kingpin’s death sparked immediate, violent retaliation across several Mexican states. Cartel operatives blockaded highways with burning vehicles and attacked businesses, leading to intense urban combat.
The operation was a major win for President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, which faced U.S. pressure to curb fentanyl trafficking.
The raid was a Mexican-led effort, though it utilized significant intelligence from a new U.S. military-led task force to track the elusive leader.
Widespread violence forced the Mexican Football Federation to postpone four professional matches, while schools in multiple states stayed closed on Monday. Public life has been paralyzed by “overwhelming fear” as citizens brace for a potential power vacuum and continued cartel infighting.
President Sheinbaum addressed the nation, vowing to maintain security cooperation with the U.S. while defending Mexican sovereignty. She stated, “We will continue to work with the U.S. to dismantle these groups, but we will not allow any unilateral military action on our soil.”
Experts warn that the death of “El Mencho” could trigger years of internal fracturing and “skirmishes between various factions” for control. While a major blow to the CJNG, many fear that without deeper systemic reforms, the cycle of cartel violence will persist.
