Ecuadorian councilor Bolivar Vera found dead after kidnapping

The harrowing incident unfolded on Thursday afternoon in the El Arbolito section of Duran Canton. Vera, accompanied by his nephew, was traveling in a vehicle when a car carrying several armed men intercepted them and forcibly took him away, as reported by local media outlets.

Tragically, the lifeless body of Bolivar Vera was discovered in an empty lot in San Guillermo, situated on the road to Salitre in Guayas, by police forensic agents.

This disturbing incident further underscores the growing wave of attacks against Ecuadorian politicians by criminal organizations this year. Earlier, the nation was shaken by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio ahead of the general election scheduled for August 20. In response, President Guillermo Lasso declared a national state of emergency on August 10, extending it for 60 days to address the alarming rise in political violence and insecurity.

The tragic death of Bolivar Vera serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Ecuador's political landscape and the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect its public servants.. (ILKHA)