A report published by the Radio Pichincha station indicates that from January to June 11 (162 days) of this year, there have been 193 massacres, which means that at least three people were murdered in the same place.
Although events of this type occur throughout the national territory, the situation in the province of Guayas is chilling, since 94 massacres have been reported there in the last six months.
The city of Guayaquil, in the aforementioned coastal province, is considered a bastion of violence, intensified with car bombs, prison riots, dismembered corpses and hanging from bridges, extortion and kidnapping.
The regional head of the Police Anti-kidnapping Unit (Unase), Óscar Salguero, told the newspaper El Universo that so far this year they have released more than 70 hostages, almost 60 more than in 2022.
At the same time, extortion of businessmen and business owners increases, some 2,700 complaints of this type were received by the Police in 2023.
Ecuador is experiencing a wave of insecurity that the government attributes to the rise of drug trafficking and disputes between criminal gangs for control of drug trafficking.
2022 closed with 25 violent deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest figure in the history of the country.
However, these numbers could be exceeded because in the first quarter of 2023 there was a 66 percent increase in homicides.
If the trend continues, we will end the year with a rate of 34 violent deaths, with 6,300 assassinated, pointed out the general on passive duty of the National Police, Ramiro Mantilla.
The government of President Guillermo Lasso, faced with the escalation of crime, adopted measures, such as authorizing the carrying of weapons for civilians and permission for the police and military to act with all the means at their disposal against those they consider to be terrorists.
However, experts and citizens consider a comprehensive strategy necessary, with investments both to facilitate the work of the public force and to attack the causes of the problem, with more employment, health and education.
ef/lam/avr
