
Waves of Rage in Kwara: Lafiagi Youths Revolt Amid Rising Abductions and Insecurity
Lafiagi town in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State descended into chaos as furious young residents launched a violent protest over escalating insecurity, citing rampant kidnappings, killings, and terrorist incursions that have devastated their communities.
The protest spiraled into destruction as the demonstrators torched the local office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and vandalized the Emir’s palace—shattering windows and damaging parts of the royal structure. Protesters described the dramatic action as a desperate cry against years of official indifference and silence in the face of continuous bloodshed.
“We’ve had enough,” one protester said. “Our people are being taken weekly. We’re dying in silence, and no one is coming to our aid.”
According to community members, three kidnappings occurred within a 12-hour window leading up to the unrest. One victim, a well-known Point of Sale (POS) operator named Yman, was abducted late Sunday evening in Lafiagi town.
By early Monday morning, gunmen reportedly stormed Kokodo village, a neighboring community, and seized two more individuals—both Hausa men. A teenage girl narrowly escaped the attackers by fleeing into nearby bushes.
“These incidents are now daily threats,” a resident lamented. “We haven’t even heard from the kidnappers yet, but local vigilantes and security personnel are already on high alert.”
The tipping point came after armed men abducted a popular agricultural supplies trader known locally as “Alhaji Chemical.” The assailants, riding motorcycles and wielding sophisticated firearms, broke into his home in the Taiwo district of Lafiagi around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday. Despite resistance from local vigilantes, the bandits overpowered them and vanished into the night with their captive.
Residents say the protests were not spontaneous but the result of long-simmering frustration with the government’s inaction.
“Our leaders are nowhere to be found when we need them,” said one local youth. “We don’t see any meaningful response from either the local chairman or the governor. People are scared to sleep, and those who can afford it are leaving town.”
As tension remains high in the area, community leaders and security agencies are scrambling to contain the fallout, while residents continue to demand urgent intervention before more lives are lost.