Emir Palace, NDLEA Office Torched in Fury Over Kidnappings

Angry youths in Lafiagi, Kwara State, set fire to the Emir’s palace and an NDLEA office on Monday.

The violent protests erupted after yet another kidnapping shook the community, this time targeting a well-known businessman.

Frustration had been simmering for weeks as kidnappings became alarmingly frequent.

Earlier that day, residents blocked roads and burned tires, demanding government action.

Among recent victims was Alhaji Chemical, a popular agro-chemical dealer snatched from his home by armed men.

“We can’t sleep with our eyes closed anymore,” a resident cried in a viral video.

The attack on Alhaji Chemical pushed the community over the edge.

Witnesses said gunmen stormed his house around 1 a.m., overpowering local vigilantes with gunfire before escaping on motorcycles.

The chaos quickly spiraled. Protesters, blaming authorities for inaction, targeted symbols of power.

Flames engulfed the NDLEA office, while the Emir’s palace had its windows shattered. In the turmoil, four detainees escaped from the burning NDLEA facility.

Kwara’s Police Commissioner, Adekimi Ojo, called the arsonists “miscreants” but confirmed the severity of the crisis.

He revealed joint patrols with soldiers were now combing nearby forests for the kidnappers and their victims.

Lafiagi’s residents live in fear as abductions grow bolder.

Many blame lax security for the unchecked crime wave.

With no end in sight, the community’s patience has worn thin, leaving smoldering buildings and a desperate cry for help.

This explosion of anger exposes Kwara’s deepening insecurity.

Without swift action, the embers of discontent may ignite even greater unrest.

For now, all eyes remain on the search for the missing—and the hope that tomorrow brings safety, not more sorrow.

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