Youths burn NDLEA office, invade emir’s palace in Kwara

Violent protests erupted in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday as angry youths set the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) office ablaze and stormed the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi in protest against growing insecurity in the area.

The protesters, mostly young residents, took to the streets decrying a surge in kidnappings, killings, and terrorist attacks, accusing government officials and traditional leaders of turning a blind eye to their plight.

Amid chants demanding security and justice, the youths vandalized parts of the Emir’s palace, including windows and gates, in what they described as an outburst of frustration over years of neglect.

“We have been crying and dying in silence,” one resident said. “People are being kidnapped every week. We don’t sleep with our eyes closed anymore, and nobody — not the governor, not the chairman, not even the Emir — is doing anything about it.”

The protest followed a string of recent abductions in the area. According to local sources, three people were kidnapped within the past 12 hours in separate incidents. Among them is a popular Point of Sale (POS) operator known as Yman, abducted on Sunday night in Lafiagi town.

In another incident early Monday, two men were kidnapped during an attack on Kokodo village. A young girl narrowly escaped by fleeing into nearby bushes.

“These attacks have become routine,” another resident said. “The POS guy was taken last night, and this morning, two Hausa men were abducted. We haven’t heard from the kidnappers yet, but vigilantes and security agents have been alerted.”

The protests intensified following the recent abduction of a prominent agro-chemical dealer popularly known as Alhaji Chemical. He was kidnapped around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday from his residence in Taiwo area, Lafiagi. Eyewitnesses said the attackers, suspected to be Fulani bandits, stormed the community on motorcycles and overpowered local vigilantes with advanced weapons before escaping with their victim.

A protester described the unrest as a culmination of bottled-up anger:

“We’ve endured these attacks for too long. Our leaders have failed us. Nothing tangible is being done.”

The violent demonstration highlights a growing sense of abandonment among residents of Kwara North, where insecurity has continued to fester despite repeated calls for help.

As of press time, security personnel had been deployed to restore order.

The Kwara State Government and traditional council are yet to issue any official statement regarding the incident or the fate of the kidnapped victims.