Nine people were killed this Tuesday in Ecuador by some thirty armed attackers who arrived in boats and cars at a port for artisanal fishermen in the northern province of Esmeraldas, on the border with Colombia, the Prosecutor's Office reported. According to the Interior Minister, the attack occurred because the fishermen "preferred the safety" of another gang "and in retaliation" a rival group opened fire.

According to Zapata, the attackers arrived at the port in two boats and an unknown number of cars.

One of the taxis in which they were traveling was abandoned at the port, the Prosecutor's Office said in another tweet.