Loffredo told local radio that 16 troops from a group abducted on Sunday in the north of the country were "handed over" on Tuesday night.

The government had initially reported 17 soldiers "kidnapped."

The military earlier said four were released on Monday but the defense ministry on Wednesday revised that number to one.

Indigenous Ecuadorans have been blocking roads in several provinces over the past week over right-wing President Daniel Noboa's cuts to fuel subsidies, which drove up the price of diesel by 56 percent.

A 46-year-old demonstrator was killed during a protest Sunday in northern Imbabura province, in circumstances that remain unclear.

Indigenous rights organization Conaie said he was shot by soldiers. The army has not commented on his death.

Noboa has declared a state of emergency in eight of the country's 24 provinces, and a nighttime curfew in five of them.