Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has enacted a state of emergency for 60 days in response to the sudden disappearance of Adolfo Macias, the country’s most-wanted prisoner. Macias, leader of the notorious Los Choneros criminal gang, vanished from his prison cell just a day before the emergency declaration. This move comes as one of the initial security challenges faced by Noboa, who assumed office in November, vowing to confront the escalating violence gripping Ecuador.
Ecuador’s prison agency said there were “incidents” on Monday at six of the country’s overcrowded prisons, where clashes between rival gangs are frequent and have left more than 400 prisoners dead since 2021.
“The time is over when drug trafficking convicts, hitmen, and organized crime dictate to the government what to do,” President Noboa declared.
What will happen during the emergency?
Ecuador’s prisons have been hotspots of turmoil, marked by frequent clashes between rival gangs within overcrowded facilities, resulting in over 400 inmate deaths since 2021, according to the prison agency.
In response to the crisis, the state of emergency mobilizes the military to bolster security both on the streets and within prisons, accompanied by the implementation of a nationwide nighttime curfew. Notably, previous administrations attempted similar emergency measures to bolster security, albeit with limited success.
Armed people hijack live TV broadcast
The situation escalated further as armed individuals hijacked a live broadcast on Ecuadorean television station TC. President Noboa was in the midst of declaring 22 gangs as terrorist organizations when the armed group interrupted the live transmission. Gunshots and chaos ensued, as the intruders, clad in balaclavas and brandishing firearms, confronted station personnel before the feed abruptly cut off. Some were captured on camera gesturing while vociferating against police presence.
In response, national police took swift action, evacuating the studio in Guayaquil and detaining 13 individuals. Social media posts from the police department depicted the detained individuals lying on the floor, their hands restrained with zip ties.
The Ecuadorean government and law enforcement agencies are working diligently to restore order and ensure the safety of citizens amid these unprecedented events, signaling a critical juncture in President Noboa’s early tenure, fraught with significant security challenges.
(With inputs from Reuters)