Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has declared a state of “internal armed conflict” in response to a security crisis triggered by the escape of a notorious criminal. The situation escalated further when hooded assailants stormed a TV studio in Guayaquil, prompting military operations against criminal groups. President Noboa issued orders for the armed forces to take action against the escalating threats from gangsters.
Formerly considered a peaceful haven, Ecuador is now grappling with a surge in violence as rival gangs, linked to cartels in Colombia and Mexico, compete for dominance. The chaos began when a powerful criminal boss escaped from prison, leading to heightened tensions and threats from criminal organizations. President Noboa, elected on an anti-crime platform, is determined to confront these cartels.
The dramatic events unfolded when armed intruders raided TC television in Guayaquil, brandishing rifles and grenades. The distressing scene played out live on air, with a terrified crew being subdued by the assailants. Despite intervention by officers, the aftermath revealed a wounded individual within the studio. The chaos continued as gangsters retaliated against a state of emergency and curfew declared by President Noboa, carrying out kidnappings and explosions in defiance of government measures.
In a chilling video, kidnapped officers delivered a menacing message to President Noboa, declaring a retaliatory “war” against the government. Unrest spread across multiple provinces, with reports of explosions and kidnappings. The armed forces launched a prison crackdown, storming facilities where guards were taken hostage.
President Noboa remains resolute in his commitment to restoring peace, but the country is facing surging drug-related violence, evidenced by a quadrupled murder rate and grim records of homicides and drug seizures. Ecuador finds itself in an urgent struggle to restore stability amid the escalating criminal turmoil, marked by prisoner clashes and a pervasive climate of violence.
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