The crisis unfolded in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where gunmen stormed state-owned TC Television & took the entire staff hostage. A state of emergency has been declared following the escape of gang leader Adolfo Macías from prison, leading to a nationwide onslaught of attacks orchestrated by criminal groups. This event took place this Tuesday, January 9, in Guayaquil, considered the most dangerous city in the country. In the middle of all the craziness, more than a dozen people with hoods on were shouting insults and saying things like “don’t shoot.”

Gunmen make TC Television Staff Hostage Posted by X user

Ecuador State Emergency, “Fito” escaped prison

Ecuador has declared a 60-day state of emergency after the leader of the notorious gang Los Choneros, Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as “Fito,” mysteriously vanished from his maximum-security prison cell in Guayaquil. The emergency measures include a nightly curfew and the suspension of the right of assembly. President Daniel Noboa stated that the move allows the military and police to take control of the country’s prisons at a national level. Fito, involved in deadly prison riots, is a significant figure linked to violence, including the assassination of a political candidate. The gang, with ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, poses a serious threat, prompting the government’s decisive action.

State Emergency in Ecuador after “Fito” escaped

National Police of Guayaquil rescued the TC Television staff:

Disturbingly, four hooded individuals flaunted grenades during the incident. The broadcast abruptly ended after 15 minutes, initially showcasing the television set. Glimpses of the media outlet’s internal facilities were later revealed. The police issued a statement on their X account, confirming the dispatch of specialized units to address the intrusion. Their primary objective is to tackle the emergency caused by the criminals in Guayaquil. The National Police of Guayaquil entered TC television station to rescue hostages. Reported injuries await official confirmation.

tc television Ecuador Police
Police rescued the staff

Ecuador is in turmoil as chaos ensues. Within 24 hours, over 30 violent acts, including explosions, attacks, and kidnappings of police officers, unfold in connection with the alleged escape of two criminal leaders from prison.