On the afternoon of February 6, there was an armed attack on a vehicle that was part of the caravan for Mayra Díaz, the vice-prefect of Los Ríos, Ecuador. The incident occurred on the Jauneche-Mocache stretch as Diaz was returning to Quevedo after participating in an event where she distributed cacao plants in the Palenque canton. The armed ambush raises concerns about the safety of public officials in the region.

The attack reportedly involved heavily armed suspects on motorcycles who attempted to intercept one of the vehicles occupied by officials from the Prefecture. Thanks to the quick actions of the driver, who managed to evade the ambush, no casualties were reported, although several bullets struck the vehicle. The assailants appeared to be trying to halt the vehicle to possibly kidnap the provincial authority, which highlights the troubling trend of violence against public figures in Ecuador.

This incident underscores the precarious security situation in Ecuador, where increasing violence, including targeted attacks on politicians and public officials, has become a significant concern. Analysts and local authorities are calling for enhanced security measures to protect officials and to address the deeper issues driving such violent acts in the country, which could further destabilize the region if not adequately addressed.