The wife and young son of a professional footballer have been successfully rescued by armed police after being kidnapped by masked assailants.
Jackson Rodriguez, the 26-year-old star for Emelec, reported the abduction of his wife and five-year-old son. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning after heavily armed individuals invaded his home in the Mucho Lote 2 neighbourhood, Ecuador.
Reports indicate that Rodriguez was left terrified during the home invasion and hid under his bed while the masked men ransacked his property. The intruders, who reportedly broke down the door around 3 am, also stole valuables, including jewellery and money, from the house.
Police forces successfully located and rescued the family from the location in El Fortin, Guayaquil, where they were being held.
Dramatic video footage shared on social media captured the moment armed officers entered the premises to rescue the footballer`s family. The visuals show police officers escorting the rescued victims out of the seemingly derelict location where they had been held captive.
Ecuadorian police have officially confirmed the successful rescue operation. Authorities revealed that the kidnappers had demanded a “large sum of money” for the safe return of the family members.
An official statement from the police read: “Following the effective investigative and operational work of the Ecuadorian Police, we released Andrexy O. and his son, relatives of Jackson Rodríguez. They were kidnapped in Mucho Lote, and their perpetrators were demanding a large sum of money for their release. They are in safekeeping.”
Local media have also reported that police are now providing protection to Rodriguez. It is believed that the footballer had not received any prior threats or warnings indicating he might be targeted.
Rodriguez, who plays as a full-back, has made 9 appearances for Emelec this season. His club competes in LigaPro, Ecuador`s highest football tier, and is currently ranked 11th in the league table.
Kidnappings targeting footballers are unfortunately not isolated incidents in Ecuador. In December last year, Pedro Perlaza, a player for Quito, was kidnapped in Esmeraldas but was found alive a few days later.
In another notable case from January 2024, Chelsea Football Club reportedly took steps to pay for the protection of their teenage signing Kendry Paez and his family. Paez, who was signed by the Blues from Independiente del Valle in 2023, is set to move to London when he turns 18 in 2025. Until that time, he continues to play in Ecuador.
Chelsea is reportedly keen to ensure the safety of Paez and his family and has offered full support to the young talent. The West London club is also reported to have extended a similar offer of support for star midfielder Moises Caicedo, whose family still resides in Ecuador. Caicedo, formerly of Brighton, has previously expressed his “worry” regarding his family`s safety back home.
