Quito.-The director of the Litoral Penitentiary, the largest and most populated prison in Ecuador, was murdered on Thursday in an attack that injured another prison officer who was with her at the time of the attack, according to the National Service for Comprehensive Care for Persons Deprived of Liberty (SNAI), the state penitentiary agency.
The attack on María Daniela Icaza and her companion occurred around 6:00 p.m. local time (23:00 GMT) on the highway between the town of Daule and the city of Guayaquil, where the Litoral Penitentiary is located.
Icaza was heading to the Guasmo Sur Hospital, located in the south of Guayaquil, when, according to local media, armed men intercepted the vehicle and shot at her, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
Initially, the SNAI reported that Icaza had been transferred alive to the hospital, but later confirmed her death.
The Ministry of the Interior regretted the death of Icaza and sent its condolences to her loved ones and friends. “The Ministry of the Interior regrets the death of Daniela Icaza Resabala, director in charge of the Guayas No. 1 Men’s Social Rehabilitation Center. We send our condolences to her loved ones and friends. We also express our solidarity with the SNAI,” it said in X.
Meanwhile, SNAI stated: “With deep regret and sadness, we express our most sincere condolences for the death of María Daniela Icaza Resabala, acting director of the CPL Guayas Men’s N°1. We convey our deepest condolences.”
This is the second murder of a prison official in nine days, after Alex Guevara, director of the Lago Agrio prison in the Amazonian province of Sucumbíos, was killed in similar circumstances on September 3.
The Litoral Penitentiary, officially known as the Guayas Men’s Deprivation of Liberty Center Number 1, is the largest of the five prisons that make up the Guayaquil penitentiary complex, which holds approximately 12,000 inmates.
More than 6,000 are in the Litoral Penitentiary, which between 2021 and 2023 was the scene of the worst massacres caused by clashes between criminal gangs fighting for internal control, at least until the militarization of these centers ordered at the beginning of the year by President Daniel Noboa.
The entry of the military into penitentiary facilities took place within the framework of the state of emergency and “internal armed conflict” declared by the ruler against organized crime, which is attributed to a rise in criminal violence that has led Ecuador to be the country in Latin America with the highest homicide rate, registering 47.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023.
The wave of murders has also claimed the lives of other prison directors, as well as municipal authorities, including several mayors, and national officials, such as presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.
The murder of María Daniela Icaza is the latest episode in the prison crisis that Ecuador has been experiencing since the end of 2020, characterized by violence between gangs, riots and direct attacks against prison authorities.Infobae.
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2024-09-14 13:32:25
– What led to the ambush attack on Ecuadorian Prison Director María Daniela Icaza?
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Ecuadorian Prison Director Assassinated in Ambush Attack
Quito, Ecuador – In a shocking and brazen act of violence, María Daniela Icaza, the director of the Litoral Penitentiary, the largest and most populated prison in Ecuador, was murdered on Thursday in an ambush attack that also injured another prison officer. The attack has sent shockwaves throughout the country, which is already grappling with a surge in criminal violence.
The Attack
The attack occurred around 6:00 p.m. local time on the highway between the town of Daule and the city of Guayaquil, where the Litoral Penitentiary is located. Icaza was heading to the Guasmo Sur Hospital in the south of Guayaquil when armed men intercepted her vehicle and shot at her, who was sitting in the passenger seat. The SNAI, the state penitentiary agency, initially reported that Icaza had been transferred alive to the hospital, but later confirmed her death.
Second Prison Official Killed in Nine Days
This is the second murder of a prison official in nine days, after Alex Guevara, director of the Lago Agrio prison in the Amazonian province of Sucumbíos, was killed in similar circumstances on September 3. The violence has raised concerns about the safety of prison officials and the escalating violence in Ecuador’s correctional facilities.
Litoral Penitentiary: A Hotbed of Violence
The Litoral Penitentiary, officially known as the Guayas Men’s Deprivation of Liberty Center Number 1, is the largest of the five prisons that make up the Guayaquil penitentiary complex, which holds approximately 12,000 inmates. More than 6,000 inmates are housed in the Litoral Penitentiary, which between 2021 and 2023 was the scene of the worst massacres caused by clashes between criminal gangs fighting for internal control. The militarization of these centers, ordered by President Daniel Noboa at the beginning of the year, was aimed at stemming the violence, but it appears that the situation remains volatile.
Ecuador’s Struggle with Crime and Violence
Ecuador is currently grappling with a surge in criminal violence, which has made it the country in Latin America with the highest homicide rate, registering 47.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023. The government has declared a state of emergency and “internal armed conflict” to combat organized crime, which is attributed to the rise in violence.
Reactions and Condolences
The Ministry of the Interior has regretted the death of Icaza and sent its condolences to her loved ones and friends. “The Ministry of the Interior regrets the death of Daniela Icaza Resabala, director in charge of the Guayas No. 1 Men’s Social Rehabilitation Center. We send our condolences to her loved ones and friends. We also express our solidarity with the SNAI,” it said in a statement. The SNAI has also expressed its deepest condolences for the death of Icaza, stating: “With deep regret and sadness, we express our most sincere condolences for the death of María Daniela Icaza Resabala, acting director of the CPL Guayas Men’s N°1. We convey our deepest condolences.”
This incident highlights the challenges facing Ecuador’s correctional system and the need for continued efforts to combat crime and violence in the country.
– What were the circumstances surrounding the murder of Ecuador’s Litoral Penitentiary director?
Here is a comprehensive and SEO-optimized article on the topic of the murder of the director of the Litoral Penitentiary in Ecuador:
Ecuador Prison Director Murdered in Ambush Attack
Quito, Ecuador – In a shocking and brutal incident, the director of the Litoral Penitentiary, the largest and most populated prison in Ecuador, was murdered on Thursday in an ambush attack that also injured another prison officer. The attack, which occurred on the highway between the town of Daule and the city of Guayaquil, has sent shockwaves throughout the country.
The Incident
According to reports, María Daniela Icaza, the director of the Litoral Penitentiary, was traveling to the Guasmo Sur Hospital in Guayaquil when her vehicle was intercepted by armed men. The attackers opened fire on the vehicle, killing Icaza and injuring another prison officer who was with her at the time of the attack.
Initial Reports and Confirmation
Initially, the National Service for Comprehensive Care for Persons Deprived of Liberty (SNAI), the state penitentiary agency, reported that Icaza had been transferred to the hospital alive. However, later reports confirmed her death.
Reaction from the Ministry of the Interior
The Ministry of the Interior has expressed its regret and condolences to Icaza’s loved ones and friends. In a statement, the Ministry said, “The Ministry of the Interior regrets the death of Daniela Icaza Resabala, director in charge of the Guayas No. 1 Men’s Social Rehabilitation Center. We send our condolences to her loved ones and friends. We also express our solidarity with the SNAI.”
SNAI Statement
The SNAI also expressed its sadness and regret at Icaza’s death, stating, “With deep regret and sadness, we express our most sincere condolences for the death of María Daniela Icaza Resabala, acting director of the CPL Guayas Men’s N°1. We convey our deepest condolences.”
Second Prison Official Murder in Nine Days
Icaza’s murder is the second murder of a prison official in just nine days. On September 3, Alex Guevara, the director of the Lago Agrio prison in the Amazonian province of Sucumbíos, was killed in similar circumstances.
Litoral Penitentiary Background
The Litoral Penitentiary, officially known as the Guayas Men’s Deprivation of Liberty Center Number 1, is the largest of the five prisons that make up the Guayaquil penitentiary complex, which holds approximately 12,000 inmates. More than 6,000 inmates are housed in the Litoral Penitentiary, which has been the scene of violent clashes between criminal gangs fighting for internal control.
Increased Security Measures
In response to the growing violence in Ecuador’s prisons, President Daniel Noboa ordered the militarization of the penitentiary system earlier this year. The move is aimed at restoring order and security to the country’s prisons.
Investigation Underway
The authorities have launched an investigation into Icaza’s murder and are working to identify the perpetrators. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of prison officials and inmates in Ecuador’s prisons.
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