“If we do nothing, this will become no man’s land,” says the police chief in the face of the rapid increase in violent deaths and robberies in Esmeraldas

Theft, threats, extortion and violence. Those four words are almost the daily life of the inhabitants of the province of Esmeraldas, who It is becoming the one with the most records of violent deaths in the country with a rate of 63.03% compared to 36.08% in Zone 8 (Guayaquil, Samborondón and Durán), according to police data.

One of the most recent events that alarmed the inhabitants of the city of Esmeraldas was an alleged threat from Los Tiguerones, after the burial of one of their leaders, identified as Juan Carlos Orellana Morán, alias little rabbit, who was killed on October 16.

This caused the businesses in the center of that city to close due to the risk of a confrontation between criminal gangs. Hólguer Cortez, commander of special Zone 1 in Esmeraldasindicated that as soon as this eventuality was known, the wake was monitored and there was never a shooting.

An atmosphere of anxiety in Esmeraldas after threats spread on social networks before two burials

“We try to neutralize with a very broad presence and encourage businesses to open,” said Cortez, who added that only 30% of businesses reopened.

“This problem deserves everyone’s unity, because it should concern us all. Every time we capture minors we should be concerned about the generational change. In the end the solution is comprehensive. You have to try to get the boys back to school and give treatment to the people on the street, which are quite a few,” Cortez told EL UNIVERSO.

In the province of Esmeraldas 413 violent deaths have been recorded so far this year and 818 robberies. As for extortion, there is no exact data and here Cortez emphasizes that it is due to the lack of complaints.

“There is no legal business that can resist the extortion scheme. And it becomes difficult because the people who access this scheme do not report and the fear they have is legitimate, but we are offering alternatives such as 1800 Crimes, we have anti-kidnapping and extortion units, we protect the identity of the complaints in order to dismantle these special groups”, the commander maintains.

The police chief also mentioned that controls are being carried out in educational establishments where alleged threats of youth recruitment have also been generated. In fact, This morning in the Quinindé canton, parents went to various institutions to withdraw their children due to the alleged recruitment and shooting.

“It’s not just a bandage, this for me is a cartel,” says the Esmeraldas police chief, referring to the Tiguerones

A citizen, who preferred to keep his name private, was alarmed because his niece was studying at one of the institutions and the minor was scared. He said that the school staff communicated -via WhatsApp- with the representatives to remove the minors. After this, the police came and dismissed those threats, but the classes were suspended.

“I understand that there are students who belong to criminal gangs and who were going to confront each other between different gangs,” said the citizen, who only leaves his home when necessary.

These alarms, according to the citizen, occurred in the Juan XXIII and Simón Plata Torres educational units. In front of the last squad, former legislator Mario Efrén Moreira was shot dead last Sunday.

“We are very concerned and we are reinforcing our schemesenhancing the models of police management”, said Commander Cortez, who added that he will have a new endowment of police personnel.

“The solution is not police but comprehensive, in which the authorities, society and the police are linked. We are giving clear signs of not renouncing our oath of service and we are showing it, unfortunately, with our fallen comrades. The National Police will not be intimidated. I am convinced that little by little we achieved that formula, I do not see this battle lost. If we give up or say ‘this is beyond us’, the next thing is a failed state. I call for justice. If we don’t, this will become no man’s land,” Cortez said. (YO)