A massacre for alleged “settling of scores” in Ecuador leaves 9 dead; At least 6 were Colombians, according to the Police

( Spanish) –– The Ecuadorian Police reported that this Sunday the bodies of nine people who died after the violent entry of an armed group into a home in the area of ​​El Guabo, in the coastal province of El Oro, in the south of the country, were found.

The Communications Department of the Ecuadorian Police indicated to this Monday that, of the nine victims, six were Colombian, one Ecuadorian, and the nationality of two others still needs to be identified.

Colonel Pablo Fajardo, chief in charge of the Police in El Oro, said this sunday to media that are collecting evidence at the scene and that the attack occurred while the people who were shot were resting in a rural area.

“They were attacked while they were resting inside that property. You can see a few mattresses lying on the floor. Apparently there were more people, but they would have escaped,” Fajardo said.

A police report to which had access indicates that the victims were executed with firearms and suggests that the incident was due to an alleged “settling of accounts between rival criminal groups”, without mentioning what it is based on to point this out.

“It is possible that the victims were involved in illicit activities and that their murder was retaliation for some action against another group,” the report states.

Colonel Fajardo indicated that the Police are trying to gather more information to be able to find the material and intellectual authors of this incident. He added that a few days ago the murdered people had rented a property where they settled and that it was still not possible to specify what their intentions were.

One of the bodies was found dismembered 400 meters from the rented home, according to the Police.

also consulted the Colombian Police for more information about the people killed and is awaiting a response.

Since October, El Oro and five other provinces have been in a state of emergency, decreed by President Daniel Noboa in order to “reinforce security actions” in the face of increased violence. In recent days, the Police have reported different acts of violence that have left people dead and injured in several cantons of El Oro.