Ecuador: Port City Mayor's Violent Death Prompts State of Emergency

Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso took decisive action in response to a surge of violence in the country over the weekend, declaring a state of emergency and implementing night curfews in three coastal provinces.

The violence resulted in the tragic deaths of at least eight people, according to Reuters.

The state of emergency was declared in the provinces of Manabi and Los Rios and the city of Duran, located near Guayaquil.

The move came after Agustin Intriago, the mayor of the port city of Manta, was fatally shot on Sunday, sparking concerns about public safety.

In addition to the shooting incident, the country witnessed riots at the Penitenciaria del Litoral prison in Guayaquil the same weekend.

The prison disturbances involved clashes between gangs within the facility, further exacerbating the security situation.

President Lasso has resorted to declaring states of emergency on several occasions as Ecuador has grappled with prison riots and a rise in violence nationwide.

Addressing the issue, Lasso highlighted the infiltration of organized crime into various sectors, including the state, political organizations, and society.

He emphasized that this problem has existed for over a decade.

The state of emergency will remain in effect for 60 days in the affected provinces. During this period, night curfews will be enforced to varying degrees, as specified by the government.

Ecuador Mayor Slain

The tragic incident in Manta, Ecuador, involving the shooting death of Mayor Agustín Intriago and local female footballer Ariana Estefanía Chancay, has left the community devastated and in shock.

The Ecuador mayor was targeted by a gunman who fired multiple shots at him on Sunday, per BBC.

Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Ms. Chancay, a 29-year-old footballer for the local club Las Dragonas, was also killed during the attack.

Following the incident, police have yet to confirm a motive behind the shooting. However, it has been revealed that Mayor Intriago had previously reported receiving threats.

Authorities will likely investigate any potential connections between these threats and the tragic event.

Rosita Saldarriaga, the Ecuador mayor's, expressed the deep grief and pain she and her children are experiencing, stating that their hearts have been "torn out" by the loss.

She praised her husband's dedication and passion for working on behalf of Manta, striving to create a better city for all its residents.

The gunman carried out the attack in Manta using a stolen pick-up truck but managed to escape, while the truck's driver was injured and apprehended by the police during a pursuit.

Agustín Intriago had been recently re-elected to a second four-year term in February. When the tragic incident occurred, he was inspecting a construction site for a new sewer project.

Just before the shooting, Ariana Estefanía Chancay had approached the mayor, seeking support for her amateur football team.

Violence in Ecuador

Ecuador is currently facing a serious outbreak of violence, which authorities attribute to conflicts among organized crime groups, AP reports.

The country's government is grappling with a surge in crime, encompassing armed attacks, kidnappings, robberies, and extortion.

One recent incident highlights the severity of the situation: a battle between rival gang members broke out in the Litoral prison in Guayaquil.

As a result of this violent clash, five inmates were killed, and eleven others were wounded.

The confrontation began on Saturday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Sunday, with the sound of gunshots and explosions causing alarm among residents in nearby residential areas.

The Litoral prison has earned a notorious reputation as one of Ecuador's most dangerous correctional facilities.

It experienced a tragic gang battle in 2021, leading to the death of 119 inmates.

More recently, in April, another riot erupted within the prison, resulting in the loss of 12 lives and injuries to three others.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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