In Ecuador, the police and military are working together to restore order in the country’s dangerous prisons, where many staff members were held hostage by inmates. This comes amid a recent increase in violence in the Andean nation.
On social media, images shared by the Ecuadorean armed forces showed shirtless prisoners on their knees with their hands on their heads as armed soldiers entered the seven jails that were the scenes of a hostage crisis that ended on Saturday evening.
The military stated that security forces were conducting searches and reasserting control of the prisons. Norman Cano, police chief at the Esmeraldas prison, said on social media, “The national police are respecting the human rights of these people. We are doing so in a very calm manner.”
Prior to being freed, the hostages – which the SNAI prison agency previously said numbered 158 guards and 20 administrative staffers – had been held since last Monday in at least seven prisons.
According to the government, armed groups appear to be reacting to President Daniel Noboa’s plans to address the dire security situation.
Reported by Alexandra Valencia; Written by Cassandra Garrison; Edited by Mark Porter
