HighlightTrending StoryWorld News

Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate Gunned Down At Campaign Rally

408

With just 12 days before voting begins for the presidential election in Ecuador, outspoken presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, has been assassinated.

According to reports, he was felled on Wednesday evening at a political rally in the capital.

The people of Ecuador have expressed pessimism ahead of upcoming presidential elections that has been dominated by drug-related violence.

However, the assassination of Villavicencio is coming less than a month after the Mayor of Manta, was brutally shot during a public appearance.

The presidential candidate was reportedly shot in the head, according to Carlos Figueroa, an associate of Villavicencio, who was at the rally.

“When he stepped outside the door, he was met with gunfire, there was nothing to be done because they were shots to the head.”

Guillermo Alberto Santiago Lasso Mendoza, the 47thPresident of Ecuador, reacting to the unfortunate incident, took to his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and said: “Outrage and shocked by the assassination” he also blamed the death on “Organized crime”.

In a televised broadcast monitored by Persecondnews on Thursday, he said “this an attempt to sabotage the upcoming election …this was a political crime, terrorism, it is no coincidence this happened days before the first round of voting.”

He also declared a 60-day nationwide state of emergency, and also the deployment of securities forces across the country to curb soaring violence.

Persecondnews gathered that the South American country recorded its highest homicide rate in decades in 2022, according to a police report on violence.

Ecuador registered 4,539 homicide victims up from 2,048 recorded in the previous year.

The insecurity in the country has resulted in around 30 candidates, including six of the presidential candidates, who are under strict police protection.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

N1.3trn fraud: EFCC arrests, grills ex-Delta Gov. Okowa

A former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has been apprehended by the...

Equatorial Guinea government official embroiled in sextape scandal

Mr. Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF)...

CAF ruling against Libya: Nigerian govt. promises to protect its citizens in Libya

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to...

Polaris Bank wins “Best Mobile App” award at Digital Jurist Awards 2024

For its commitment to digital innovation and excellence, Polaris Bank has again...

Updated: After six years of injustice, Nigeria’s ex-Chief Justice, Onnoghen, finally gets justice

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Monday, overturned the conviction of...

Flood sacks 4 Anambra council areas as Soludo activates 27 IDP camps

By Emmanuel Ndukuba, Awka Floods have devastated four local government areas in...

Four-month salary: NASU, SSANU secure irrevocable commitment from FG, suspend strike

After a six-day strike, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non-teaching staff...

Three radio stations in Abia destroyed by mysterious fire

A mysterious fire has hit three radio stations in Abia in Abia...

Seven new ministers for inauguration on Monday, Nov. 4

President Bola Tinubu will preside over the oath-taking of seven new ministers...

Youth shot dead for playing football near VIP’s house

A 70-year-old man, Mr. Stephen Irobunda, has escaped a mob action in...

Renowned Nigerian filmmaker, director Dimeji Ajibola is dead

Dimeji Ajibola, the acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker behind the popular series Shanty Town,...

Just in: UK Conservative Party elects former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch as new leader

Former British Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has emerged as the new leader...

Demolition of Abuja N200bln properties: Restrain Wike, Estate Developers Beg Pres. Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to intervene in the alleged demolition...

FirstBank’s retired CEO, Adeduntan, gets presidential commendation

Impressed with his exemplary career trajectory and transformative leadership, President Bola Tinubu...

#EndBadGovernance protests: AGF to Police: Transfer casefiles of 72 defendants to my office

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince...

NAGAFF Taps NPA MD, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as Keynote Speaker for Silver Jubilee Anniversary

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has announced Dr....

It’s fake news: Fubara did not order shut down of NNPC Ltd, oil companies in Rivers

The Rivers State Government has refuted a report circulating on social media,...

Tinubu to NEC: Allow tax reform bills pass through legislative process, public hearing

President Bola Tinubu has received the National Economic Council’s recommendation that the...

Minister Inspects Bagaja Renewables’ Zawaciki 1MWp Mini-Grid Amid Northern Power Crisis

As northern Nigeria grapples with prolonged power outages, Minister of Power Adelabu...

Just in: Court grants VeryDarkMan N2m bail

Reprieve has come for the detained social media critic, Martins Otse, popularly...