A violent protest broke out in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday, June 30, 2025, as angry youths, fed up with rising kidnappings, killings, and terrorist attacks, took matters into their own hands setting the NDLEA office on fire and storming the Emir’s palace.
The protesters, mostly young locals, vandalised parts of the palace and destroyed property at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s office in a rare outburst of frustration over what they described as years of government inaction.
“We are dying in silence. Every day, someone is taken. The government and even our traditional rulers have failed us,” said one resident.
What Sparked the Violence?
According to local sources, the protest was triggered by three kidnappings in the past 12 hours, including:
A popular POS agent, Yman, abducted Sunday night in Lafiagi town.
Two Hausa men, taken early Monday morning in Kokodo village during a violent raid.
A young girl barely escaped the attack by fleeing into the bush.The tipping point came after the abduction of a well-known agro-chemical trader, Alhaji Chemical, from his residence in Taiwo area around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses reported that heavily armed Fulani bandits overpowered local vigilantes and fled with their victim on motorcycles.
Youth Outcry: “No One Is Safe Anymore”
“This protest is the result of bottled-up anger,” said another protester.
“We don’t sleep well anymore. No security. No help. Not from the governor, not from the chairman, not even from the Emir.”
Residents say security in Kwara North has deteriorated rapidly, and calls for state or federal intervention have gone unanswered.
Palace Attacked, NDLEA Office Torched
Chanting for justice and safety, the protesters stormed the Emir’s palace, shattering windows and damaging parts of the building.
They also set the NDLEA office ablaze, accusing the agency and other security outfits of being ineffective in curbing rising insecurity.
As of press time, security forces have been deployed to the scene to prevent further escalation.
There has been no official response from the Kwara State government or the Emir of Lafiagi.