Drug Gang Hostage Prison Guard, Ecuador President: We Are At War And Will Not Surrender

Ecuadorian riot police carry out motorized patrols. (Wikimedia Commons/akeg)

JAKARTA - Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa on Wednesday said his country was "at war" with drug gangs holding prison guards hostage, amid escalating violence that has seen gunmen take over live TV broadcasts and explosions in several cities.

The day before, President Noboa named 22 gangs as terrorist organizations, making them official military targets.

"We are at war and we cannot give up in the face of this terrorist group," President Noboa told radio station Canela Radio on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters, January 11.

The Ecuadorian leader estimates that around 20,000 criminal gang members are active in the country.

The streets of the capital Quito and the port city of Guayaquil were quieter than usual on Wednesday, with many businesses closed or working remotely, while schools were closed.

Earlier, the hostage-taking of more than 130 prison guards and staff, which began in the early hours of Monday, following the escape of Los Choneros gang leader Adolfo Macias from prison at the weekend, prompted President Noboa to declare a 60-day state of emergency.

He toughened the decision on Tuesday, after a series of explosions across the country and the takeover of the TC television station by gunmen during a live broadcast.

President Noboa confirmed that every effort was made to rescue the prison hostages.

Separately, some 329 people, mostly members of gangs such as Los Choneros, Los Lobos and Los Tiguerones have been arrested since the emergency began, armed forces commander Jaime Vela said at a press conference on Wednesday evening.

"No hostages were killed," Vela added, responding to questions about horrific videos circulating on social media showing prison staff subjected to extreme violence, including being shot and lynched.

The government says this latest wave of violence is a reaction to President Noboa's plans to build a new, high-security prison for gang leaders. President Noboa told the radio station that the designs for the two new facilities will be announced tomorrow (today).

"Things are starting to crystallize but we have to be aware that this can't be done overnight," Vela said of prisons.

Meanwhile, the SNAI prison authority said 125 guards were being held hostage, while 14 others were administrative staff. Eleven people were released on Tuesday, the agency said.