Security forces move to restore order in the wake of recent disturbances
Ecuador’s law enforcement and military forces collaborated on Sunday to reinstate order within the nation’s precarious prison facilities, where numerous staff members had been taken hostage by inmates amidst a surge in violence across the Andean country.
Social media platforms displayed visuals released by the Ecuadorean armed forces, depicting shirtless detainees positioned on their knees with hands placed on their heads as armed soldiers entered the seven correctional facilities that had become the focal points of the hostage crisis, ultimately concluding on Saturday evening.
The military confirmed that security forces were actively engaged in searches and reasserting control over the prisons.
Norman Cano, the police chief at the Esmeraldas prison, emphasized on social media, “The national police are respecting the human rights of these people. We are doing so in a very calm manner.”
Previously reported by the SNAI prison agency, the hostages comprised 158 guards and 20 administrative personnel, all of whom had been held captive since the preceding Monday in at least seven prisons before their eventual liberation.
The government posits that armed groups might be responding to President Daniel Noboa’s initiatives aimed at addressing the severe security challenges faced by the nation.
As the security situation in Ecuador remains a pressing concern, the coordinated efforts of the police and military seek to restore normalcy within the prison facilities, safeguarding the well-being of both inmates and staff.
The released hostages mark the resolution of a critical and tense situation that unfolded over the course of the week, prompting a comprehensive response from the authorities to regain control and ensure the ongoing safety of the prison environment.
