|By Adejumo Adekunle-
-Youths Torch NDLEA Office, Vandalise Emir’s Palace Over Insecurity
–Lafiagi Residents Say Government Has Abandoned Them to Terrorists, Kidnappers
Angry residents of Lafiagi, in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, staged a violent protest on Monday, decrying rising insecurity, kidnappings, and killings in their communities.
The demonstrators, largely youths from affected villages, accused both state and traditional authorities of neglect and failure to protect lives and property. Chanting solidarity songs and wielding placards, the protesters took to the streets, demanding swift government intervention.
The unrest took a violent turn as protesters set fire to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) office in Lafiagi and vandalised the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, smashing windows and damaging sections of the royal building.
“We have been crying and dying in silence,” one protester said in a video clip that has since gone viral. “People are being kidnapped every week. We don’t sleep with both eyes closed anymore. Nobody — not the governor, not the chairman, not even the Emir — is doing anything about it.”
Sources said the protest erupted after weeks of repeated attacks and the government’s failure to respond meaningfully. Eyewitnesses reported that the situation spiralled out of control as protesters stormed major institutions in the town, including security agencies.
“The youths are exhausted,” another resident stated. “There has been no concrete action from the government. The attacks have only become more frequent.”
Communities in and around Lafiagi have been hit by a series of abductions, with several victims still in captivity. Some families have reportedly paid huge ransoms to free their loved ones, while others remain in fear.
In one recent incident, three Fulani women were abducted on Sunday — adding to the growing list of unresolved cases and rising tension in the region.
The protesters demanded an immediate deployment of security personnel and a sustainable plan from the Kwara State Government to end the reign of terror and restore peace.
As of press time, there has been no official statement from the state government or the Emirate Council.
