Furious young people in Lafiagi, located in the Edu local government area of Kwara State, unleashed chaos as they flooded the streets to demonstrate against the unending wave of kidnappings, murders, and terrorist assaults tormenting their communities.
The enraged youths set fire to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) office and stormed the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, damaging windows and other parts of the building in a vivid display of long-suppressed frustration over what they described as years of government neglect. The youths claim they have been suffering and perishing in silence as their people are abducted weekly.
According to community residents, three individuals were kidnapped within the past 12 hours in two separate incidents. Among them is a well-known Point of Sale (POS) agent called Yman, who was taken Sunday night in Lafiagi town.
In the early hours of Monday, two additional victims, both Hausa men, were abducted during a violent attack on Kokodo village, a nearby settlement. A young girl narrowly escaped the assailants by fleeing into the surrounding bushes.
“These attacks are becoming too rampant. The POS guy was kidnapped Sunday evening, and now two Hausa men were also taken this morning. We haven’t heard from the kidnappers, but vigilantes and security operatives have been briefed.” a resident said.
The eruption of fury reached a breaking point following the recent kidnapping of a prominent agro-chemical dealer, widely known as Alhaji Chemical, who was abducted from his home in the Taiwo area of Lafiagi around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday. Eyewitnesses report that the attackers, suspected to be bandits, arrived on motorcycles and overpowered local vigilantes with advanced weapons before fleeing with their victim.
One resident described today’s protest as a result of pent-up anger over repeated terrorist invasions.
“The youths are tired, and no tangible actions are coming from the government. Our chairman and the governor are not willing to help us.” the resident said.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
