GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — An inquiry into the military’s involvement in the recent disappearance of four children in Ecuador has faced significant delays, despite police being presented with surveillance footage showing soldiers taking two of the missing children. The children, ranging in age from 11 to 15, vanished on December 8 in Guayaquil after a soccer game, prompting extensive public outcry and demands from human rights organizations for an investigation into the situation, classified by many as a forced disappearance.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the surveillance footage was submitted to authorities shortly after the children went missing. Despite this evidence, the military’s involvement was not addressed in an official inquiry until nearly two weeks later. The investigation only gained momentum after the children’s families utilized local news and social media platforms to mobilize public attention and prompt action from law enforcement.
The footage, which came to light earlier this week, depicts men in military attire forcibly taking two boys and driving away with them in a pickup truck. It is widely believed that these boys are part of the group that disappeared on that fateful night.
On Tuesday, authorities discovered four severely burned bodies near an air force base in Taura, raising suspicions that they could belong to the missing children. Subsequently, 16 soldiers from the base were detained as part of the investigation. Officials stated that it could take up to a month to confirm the identities of the remains, as the extreme damage to the bodies makes traditional identification processes unfeasible. Instead, forensic specialists will need to extract DNA from skeletal remains for accurate identification.
The detained soldiers are scheduled for a hearing next Tuesday, where they are likely to face charges related to the forced disappearance of the children, as explained by the Attorney General’s Office. Defense Minister Gian Carlo Lofffredo announced that the soldiers would also undergo questioning by a military tribunal, emphasizing that the patrol involved in the children’s disappearance did not receive authorization from the commanding officers at the Taura base.
Law enforcement authorities deferred inquiries concerning the surveillance videos to the national prosecutor’s office, which has yet to provide a statement. Meanwhile, both the Ministry of Defense and the Ecuadorian army refrained from responding to inquiries regarding the video evidence.
The situation in Ecuador has deteriorated in recent months, especially after a gang leader escaped from prison amid severe riots in January. Shortly after this escape, members of a rival gang attacked a television station and disrupted a live broadcast to make demands from the government.
Under President Daniel Noboa’s administration, the military has been called upon to tackle the rising gang-related violence plaguing the nation. However, the military has faced serious allegations, including previous instances of forced disappearances, and incidents of excessive force, such as the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old by military personnel at a checkpoint in Guayaquil.
As President Noboa prepares for reelection in February, he has vowed to take measures to combat violence. Nevertheless, many Ecuadorians voice their frustrations, as the homicide rates have surged threefold since 2021, with drug cartels’ extortion activities leading thousands to flee to the United States for safety and better opportunities.
