The number of violent deaths in nine provinces of Ecuador grows in 2024 compared to the previous year despite militarization as part of the internal armed conflict current in the country today.
Figures from the National Police, cited on the Ecuavisa channel website, indicate that at the national level from January to April 378 fewer people have died than in 2023, but in nine districts there are more murders this year.
That is the panorama faced by Los Ríos, Orellana, Manabí, Santa Elena, Sucumbìos, Cañar, Tungurahua, Imbabura and Bolívar.
In total, in Ecuador, 378 fewer people have died from intentional homicides in the last four months, when 1,707 deaths were recorded, while in 2023 between January and April there were 2,085 deaths.
Among the most notorious events of the current period are several massacres and crimes against three mayors in less than a month, including Brigitte García, the youngest mayor in the country.
Parallel to this situation of violence, concerns are growing about the excessive use of military force in the fight against criminal groups and also the civilian population committing crimes in the face of the climate of alert to put an end to criminals.
Last week, a 17-year-old boy died after being captured and burned alive in the province of Carchi, bordering Colombia, after stealing avocados from a farm.
Another event that has shaken the networks is the death of Carlos Javier Vega, 19 years old, who was shot by soldiers on February 2, a fact that the main Ecuadorian media have not reported.
Although there is criticism of the actions of the uniformed officers, the majority of citizens voted in favor of the questions related to the security issue in the popular consultation on April 21 proposed by President Daniel Noboa.
In this way, the Executive has more legal tools for the military to act in the fight against criminal gangs, said the president in reference to the results of the consultative process, which he described as a “rule.”
