Brazil police have made significant progress in the investigation of the murder of Òrìsà worshiper , activist and quilombola leader , Ìyálóríşà Bernadete Pacífico, also known as Mae Bernadete. The state’s Secretary of Security, Marcelo Werner, revealed this information on Tuesday.
Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the crime. One has been identified as the primary perpetrator, another was found in possession of the murder weapons, and a third was arrested for receiving stolen property, as they had the ialorixá’s cell phones. A fourth individual linked to the murder is currently being sought by law enforcement.
One of the suspects, believed to be a key figure in the murder, was captured last Friday in Araçás, 105 kilometers from Salvador. This individual has confessed to the murder, but further verification of their stated motive is required.
Secretary Werner , the Bahia state security officer revealed that the suspects are affiliated with a drug trafficking gang operating in Simões Filho, within the metropolitan region of Salvador, where Mother Bernadete’s quilombo was located. To protect the ongoing investigations, the identities of the detained individuals have not been disclosed.
Mr Werner emphasized the commitment of the security forces to diligently uncovering the facts of the case and ensuring justice is served in this tragic incident.The security officer said two firearms believed to have been used in the crime were confiscated last Friday. These weapons, along with ammunition and three magazines, were discovered in a mechanical workshop in the Pitanga de Palmares community, situated in the rural area of Simões Filho. Forensic analysis has indicated that these firearms match the projectiles found at the crime scene, leading to the arrest of the mechanic in possession of these items for illegal firearm possession.
Heloísa Brito, the Chief of the Civil Police, reported that they had collected crucial evidence, including mobile phones, and conducted numerous interviews to shed light on the circumstances of the murder. She explained, “We conducted 64 interviews, seized 21 mobile devices, and requested 19 precautionary measures. We made significant progress through collaboration with all departments of the Civil Police, particularly through our partnership with the Judiciary and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.”
Iyàlórìsà Bernadete was tragically killed on August 17 inside her residence in the Pitanga dos Palmares Quilombo, sustaining over 10 gunshot wounds. She was a dedicated advocate for preserving ancestral black culture and the rights of Afro-descendant communities. She also served as the coordinator for the National Coordination of Quilombo Articulation (Conaq).
On the night of the crime, two individuals wearing motorcycle helmets forcibly entered Mother Bernadete’s home, taking her relatives hostage and executing her. The motive behind this homicide may be connected to her activism on behalf of the quilombo and the land it occupied.
Following the murder, Iyàlórìsà Bernadete’s family was relocated from the quilombo as a protective measure.
Oversight by Observatory: Investigations into the cases of Ìyalorisa Bernadete and her son are being overseen by the Observatory of High-Profile Cases, established by the National Council of Justice (CNJ) and the National Council of the Public Ministry (CNMP).
A few weeks before her tragic death, during a meeting with the President of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Rosa Weber, Iyàlórìsà Bernadete expressed her fear of being assassinated. At the II Seminar on Racial Issues in the Judiciary, held at the CNJ headquarters, Minister Weber criticized the Brazilian state for its failure to protect the lives, integrity, values, and rights of the black population.
