Kwara State was thrown into turmoil on Monday as angry youths in the town of Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area, erupted in protest over the unending wave of kidnappings, killings, and terrorist attacks plaguing their communities.
The protest, which turned violent, saw demonstrators set ablaze the local office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and vandalise the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi in a show of raw anger and frustration.
The unrest is the latest in a series of reactions to what locals describe as years of government abandonment and failure to tackle the deepening insecurity in the northern part of the state.
Chanting slogans and calling for protection, the demonstrators — mostly young men — marched through the town, demanding urgent intervention from both state and federal authorities.
“We have been crying and dying in silence,” one protester said. “People are kidnapped every week. We no longer sleep with our two eyes closed. Nobody — not the governor, not the chairman, not even the Emir — is doing anything.”
According to reports from Sahara Reporters, the immediate trigger for the protest was a series of fresh abductions within a 12-hour window. A popular Point of Sale (POS) operator known as Yman was kidnapped on Sunday night within Lafiagi town.
The tension escalated Monday morning following the abduction of two more individuals — both Hausa men — during an armed invasion of Kokodo village, a nearby settlement. A young girl who was with the victims narrowly escaped by fleeing into nearby bushes.
“The kidnappings are now almost daily,” another resident lamented. “Just last night, they took the POS guy. Then this morning, they seized two more. We’re terrified, and no one seems to care. Security forces have been informed, but we are yet to see action.”
The situation reached a boiling point after the recent abduction of a prominent agro-chemical dealer known as Alhaji Chemical. He was reportedly taken from his home in the Taiwo area of Lafiagi around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses say armed men believed to be Fulani bandits stormed the area on motorcycles, outgunned local vigilantes, and escaped with their victim into the night.
These repeated incidents have bred deep resentment among residents, who say they feel abandoned by both political and traditional institutions. Many blame the Emir of Lafiagi and local government officials for what they perceive as indifference and inaction.
“This protest is long overdue,” said a youth leader. “The government has failed us. Our chairman and the governor are doing nothing. Even our traditional rulers appear helpless. The youths are tired of being slaughtered or kidnapped like animals.”
The uprising in Lafiagi is a reflection of the broader climate of fear and helplessness in Kwara North, where communities have continuously called for intervention — but to no avail. For years, insecurity has worsened, with banditry and terrorism gaining ground in rural areas.
As of the time of filing this report, security personnel had been deployed to the town in an effort to restore order. However, the Kwara State government and the Emir of Lafiagi had yet to issue any official statement regarding the protest or the status of the abducted victims.
Residents are now demanding not just words, but decisive and immediate action. The events in Lafiagi serve as a grim reminder that without prompt intervention, rising insecurity could trigger even more unrest across the state.