QUITO, Ecuador – The police in Ecuador have arrested six individuals, all of whom are Colombian nationals, in connection with the murder of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. A seventh suspect, also Colombian, was killed during a shootout with the police.
Villavicencio, a favourite to win the upcoming election, was assassinated after leaving a campaign event in Quito earlier this week.
Interior Minister Juan Zapata has described the murder as an “abominable event” and confirmed that a thorough police investigation is currently underway. The authorities are determined to “discover the motive of this crime and its intellectual authors.”
During a recent press conference, Mr. Zapata identified the detained individuals as Andres M, Jose N, Eddy G, Camilo R, Jules C, and Jhon Rodriguez.
In the raid leading to their arrest, the police recovered a collection of firearms and explosives, including a rifle, a submachine gun, four pistols, three grenades, and four boxes of ammunition.
Additionally, two motorbikes and a stolen vehicle were found in the suspects’ possession.
Villavicencio, known for his vocal criticism of organized crime, had highlighted potential links between corruption and government officials in his campaign.
Given the context, President Guillermo Lasso views the assassination as a blatant attempt to undermine the upcoming election.
Regardless of the tense situation, President Lasso has confirmed that the voting will proceed as scheduled on 20 August.
In light of the assassination, a national state of emergency has been declared.
Attributing the murder to organized crime, President Lasso has sought the assistance of US federal agents for the investigation. A team of FBI agents is expected to arrive shortly to aid Ecuadorian authorities.
It’s worth noting that Villavicencio had previously received threats from a gang known as Los Choneros and was under the protection of a security detail.
In a concerning development, a video emerged on social media following the assassination, showcasing heavily armed men wearing balaclavas.
These individuals claimed responsibility for Villavicencio’s death, identifying themselves as members of Los Lobos, a rival gang to Los Choneros.
However, a subsequent video revealed a group of men, unmasked this time, who identified as Los Lobos members. They denied any involvement in the assassination, asserting that the prior video was a ploy by their adversaries to frame them for the murder.
This complicated web of accusations and counter-accusations underscores the deep-seated issues of gang violence and political unrest currently plaguing Ecuador.
