Angry youths in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, took to the streets in a violent protest against the escalating wave of kidnappings, killings, and terrorist attacks devastating their communities.
During the unrest, the protesters set ablaze the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) office and stormed the Emir of Lafiagi’s palace, vandalizing windows and other parts of the building. The youths described their actions as an outcry against years of government neglect, lamenting that their people have been suffering in silence while kidnappings occur almost weekly.
Residents reported that three people were kidnapped within 12 hours in two separate incidents. Among the victims is a popular Point of Sale (POS) operator named Yman, who was abducted on Sunday night in Lafiagi town.
In the early hours of Monday, two more victims—both Hausa men—were taken during a violent raid on Kokodo village, a nearby settlement. A young girl narrowly escaped the attackers by fleeing into the surrounding bushes.
“These attacks are becoming too frequent. The POS operator was taken Sunday evening, and now two Hausa men were kidnapped this morning. We have yet to hear from the kidnappers, but vigilantes and security forces have been alerted,” a community member said.
The protests erupted after the recent abduction of a well-known agro-chemical dealer, popularly called Alhaji Chemical, who was kidnapped from his home in the Taiwo area of Lafiagi around 1 a.m. on Sunday. Eyewitnesses said the bandits, arriving on motorcycles armed with sophisticated weapons, overwhelmed local vigilantes before fleeing with their captive.
One resident described the protest as the result of mounting frustration over repeated terrorist attacks. “The youths are exhausted, and no real action is coming from the government. Our chairman and governor seem unwilling to help us,” the resident lamented.
