A wave of anger and frustration swept through Lafiagi in Edu local government area of Kwara State on Monday as irate youths took to the streets in protest against the relentless surge in kidnappings, killings, and terrorist attacks plaguing their communities.
Amid chants for justice and security, the protesters, mostly local youths, set the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) office ablaze and stormed the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, vandalising windows and other parts of the structure in a dramatic expression of pent-up anger over what they described as years of government neglect.
“We have been crying and dying in silence,” a resident said. “People are being kidnapped every week. We don’t sleep with our two eyes closed anymore, and nobody, not the governor, not the chairman, not even the Emir is doing anything about it.”
According to Sahara Reporters, the protests followed a series of recent abductions that have heightened fear and unrest in the region. According to local sources, three people were kidnapped within the last 12 hours in two separate incidents. Among them is a popular Point of Sale (POS) agent known as Yman, who was abducted Sunday night in Lafiagi town.
In the early hours of Monday, two other 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 rampant,” another resident lamented. “The POS guy was kidnapped Sunday evening, and now two Hausa men were also taken this morning. We haven’t heard from the kidnappers, but vigilantes and security operatives have been briefed.”
The outburst of anger reached a tipping point after the recent abduction of a prominent agro-chemical dealer, popularly known as Alhaji Chemical, who was kidnapped from his home in the Taiwo area of Lafiagi around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday. Eyewitnesses say the attackers, believed to be Fulani bandits, arrived on motorcycles and overpowered local vigilantes with sophisticated weapons before escaping with their victim.
One resident described Monday’s protest as “a result of bottled-up anger over repeated terrorist invasions,” adding, “The youths are tired, and no tangible actions are coming from the government. Our chairman and the governor are not willing to help us.”
The unrest underscores a broader climate of helplessness and insecurity in Kwara North, where communities have repeatedly cried out for state and federal intervention.
As of the time of filing this report, security operatives have been deployed to restore calm in the area. There has been no official statement from the Kwara State government or traditional authorities regarding the protest or the status of the kidnapped victims.
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