Overview

• Jackson Rodríguez's wife and five-year-old child were abducted from their Guayaquil home by armed assailants who forced entry late Tuesday night.
• The footballer hid under a bed during the home invasion and witnessed the kidnappers drive away with his family.
• Police and Interior Ministry forces successfully rescued the hostages within 24 hours, following a high ransom demand from the perpetrators.
• Ecuador has been grappling with escalating violence linked to powerful drug-trafficking gangs, prompting a state of emergency declared by President Daniel Noboa in early 2024.
• The incident underscores the personal risks faced by public figures and the broader security challenges in the country, particularly in Guayaquil, a hub for drug-related crime.