Tension boiled over in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Monday, as irate youths set fire to the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi and the local office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in protest against persistent kidnappings in the area.
The violent demonstration erupted after the abduction of a prominent agrochemical businessman, popularly known as Alhaji Chemical, by suspected bandits in the early hours of Sunday. The incident added to a series of recent abductions that have left residents living in fear.
Eyewitnesses said the kidnappers stormed the businessman’s residence in the Taiwo area around 1:00 a.m., firing sporadically to scare off local vigilantes before whisking the victim away on motorcycles.
Earlier in the day, youths had barricaded major roads, burned used tyres, and called for urgent government intervention. However, the protest turned destructive when some of the demonstrators stormed the Emir’s palace and the NDLEA office, setting both buildings ablaze.
A viral video from the scene showed residents expressing outrage, citing another recent kidnapping of a young Point of Sale (POS) operator. One protester said, “We can’t sleep with our eyes closed anymore. People are being taken almost weekly now.”
Confirming the incident, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adekimi Ojo, said security personnel, including police, soldiers, hunters, and vigilantes, had been deployed to comb the surrounding bushes in search of the abducted victims.
“The protest was hijacked by miscreants who damaged parts of the Emir’s palace and burned the NDLEA office. They also released four detainees from NDLEA custody before fleeing upon the arrival of security forces,” Ojo told PLATFORM TIMES.
He added that he and the Brigade Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi, Ilorin, had visited the town to assess the situation and restore order.
Residents of Lafiagi have for months decried the increasing spate of kidnappings, accusing authorities of neglect and failure to curb the menace.
Security sources describe the abduction of Alhaji Chemical as a “well-coordinated operation,” citing the gang’s precision and the high-profile nature of the target.
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