Seven people were shot dead by armed assailants in western Ecuador on Monday, authorities have confirmed. According to local police reports, the attackers first gathered the victims and subjected them to questioning before opening fire with rifles and pistols. The incident occurred at a farm in the province of Manabí and has sent shockwaves through the local rural community. The news was reported from Quito by the AFP news agency.
Ecuador has witnessed a rising trend of violent attacks carried out by individuals impersonating military personnel. These incidents are often linked to turf wars among drug trafficking networks connected to international cartels, which are competing for control over lucrative smuggling routes. Such conflicts have intensified over the past several years, resulting in a significant increase in violent deaths nationwide.
Since January, the Ecuadorian government has declared a state of emergency in Manabí and eight other provinces as part of an effort to curb rising crime and cartel-related violence. President Daniel Noboa has deployed the military to assist the police in anti-drug operations, but violence has not abated. On the contrary, it has escalated. Last year, Ecuador recorded a historic high of 9,216 violent deaths, according to official police data.
The Monday morning attack left seven victims dead. Preliminary investigations suggest that the assailants targeted farm workers and local residents, underscoring the vulnerability of rural communities in regions dominated by cartel activity. Authorities have launched a search to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, but challenges remain due to the sophisticated and heavily armed nature of the criminal networks operating in the area.
The following table summarises key information about the attack:
| Date | Location | Fatalities | Weapons Used | Victims |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, Feb 2026 | Manabí Province, Ecuador | 7 | Rifles and Pistols | Farm workers and locals |
Analysts note that attacks carried out by assailants disguised as military personnel have become increasingly common in Ecuador, reflecting broader regional trends in South America where organised crime and drug trafficking fuel violence. Despite government efforts, the scale of cartel operations continues to pose significant challenges to law enforcement, particularly in rural areas far from central authorities.
President Noboa has pledged to intensify military and police operations, including night-time patrols and targeted anti-drug campaigns in Manabí and other affected provinces. However, experts warn that unless the underlying power struggles between rival cartels are addressed, violent incidents such as Monday’s massacre are likely to recur, keeping rural communities in a state of fear and insecurity.