Community takes justice into their own hands against murder suspect

The community of Cayambe, Ecuador, applied indigenous justice by taking action against Luis V., a 36-year-old man, identified as the main suspect in the murder of Ramiro Iguago Andrango, a 45-year-old truck driver. Iguago, who worked as a freight hauler in his truck, was last seen on September 12, and days later his body was found in a ravine in Oyacoto, causing outrage in the community.

The capture of Luis V. occurred last Friday, when, according to reports, both the National Police and members of the community of the Juan Montalvo parish and the Rumiloma sector participated in his apprehension.

During the arrest, Luis V. confessed the location where the body of the transporter was found, which led the community to make radical decisions. Despite the police's attempts to collaborate in the investigation, control of the situation escaped from the hands of the authorities and the community decided to take justice into their own hands.

On Saturday, after revealing the whereabouts of the transporter's body, Luis V. was taken to the center of Cayambe, where he was lynched by an angry crowd. The alleged perpetrator was beaten and hung with ropes in the city's central park, in front of a mural of former president Eloy Alfaro. Videos and images of the tragic event quickly went viral on social media, showing the man suspended in the air.

The authorities, through a message on the social network X, confirmed that they are carrying out proceedings to clarify the facts, without providing details about the progress of the investigation.

Community leader Denis de la Cruz explained that the original intention was to coordinate efforts between indigenous justice and ordinary justice to resolve the case. However, the indignation of the population was such that the situation got out of control.