BOGOTA - A mayor in Colombia's strife-prone southwestern province of Cauca was kidnapped Monday by unknown gunmen, authorities said Tuesday.

Almaguer Mayor Milton Hurtado, 36, was ridding a car with others down a highway when he was taken away, Cauca Police Commander Carlos Rodriguez told reporters. But the gunmen eventually let go his companions.

Cauca Governor Guillermo Gonzalez vowed to do all that it takes to get back the mayor safely, while ordering an rescue operation in the area that involve police and army troops.

Kidnapping and murder are not rare in Cauca where hundreds of police officers, soldiers and government officials have been killed by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) in recent years. The province is also plagued by rampant organized crime and drug trafficking.