Ongoing unrest in Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province amid state of emergency

Esmeraldas, the capital city of the northern Ecuadorian province of the same name, was the site of unrest between law enforcement and criminal elements this week.

The ongoing strife occurred during the declared state of exception, a response to the escalating violence affecting several regions of the country.

The National Police were dispatched to the municipalities of Rioverde, Eloy Alfaro, and Esmeraldas with the intent to restore public order and safety.

In conjunction with the armed forces, seven individuals belonging to the criminal group known as Los Tiguerones were captured.

A widely-shared video on social media platforms included a Los Tiguerones representative proclaiming their alignment with a ‘peace agreement’ devised to halt violent deaths, extortion, and unlawful fines.

Notably, the video featured Iván Toledo, the director of Esmeraldas prison, according to digital news outlet Primicias.

Ecuador’s prisons are currently under a nationwide state of emergency.

In one instance, the exact death toll remains uncertain in prison number 1 in Guayas province, with conflicting reports from the Attorney General’s Office and the police.

Concurrently, inmate-led hunger strikes took place in 13 prisons, but these are now reportedly concluded.

In a separate incident, over a hundred prison guards were held, but have since been released according to official statements.