Amid growing insecurity in Kwara State, irate youths in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area, staged a protest on Monday, setting fire to the office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and vandalising parts of the Emir’s palace.

The protest, which began in the early hours of the morning, was triggered by a fresh wave of kidnappings in the area, including the abduction of a popular Point of Sale (POS) agent identified as Yman and two others within 12 hours.

Souces that the demonstrators, mostly young residents, expressed deep frustration over repeated attacks by suspected bandits and the lack of response from both state and local authorities.

“This has gone on for too long. Every week someone is taken, and nobody is saying or doing anything,” one of the protesters said. “We don’t sleep in peace anymore. The governor, the local council chairman, even the Emir have been silent. Enough is enough.”

During the protest, aggrieved youths stormed the NDLEA office and set it ablaze before proceeding to the Emir’s palace, where several windows and parts of the structure were damaged.

Sources within the community attributed the violent protest to mounting tension and long-standing grievances, describing it as an outburst of bottled-up anger over persistent insecurity and perceived neglect by those in authority.

“The youths feel abandoned,” said a local source. “They say there’s no political will to address the killings and abductions. People are being kidnapped, ransoms are being paid, and yet, nothing is changing.”

The recent incidents include the abduction of the POS agent in Lafiagi on Sunday night, followed by the kidnapping of two Hausa men during a raid on Kokodo village in the early hours of Monday. A young girl reportedly escaped after fleeing into a nearby bush.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but locals suspect the involvement of heavily armed bandits who have been terrorising rural communities in Kwara North.

Security sources confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track the kidnappers and secure the release of the victims. “The vigilantes and security operatives have been mobilised. Investigations are underway,” a source said.

The protest came barely 24 hours after another resident, a well-known agro-chemical dealer popularly called Alhaji Chemical, was abducted from his home in the Taiwo area of Lafiagi around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Witnesses said the attackers, believed to be operating in organised groups, arrived on motorcycles and overpowered the local vigilante team before whisking the victim away.

As of press time, neither the state government nor the Emirate Council had issued an official statement on the protest or the string of abductions.

Kwara North has in recent months experienced a surge in violent crimes, particularly kidnappings, prompting calls for stronger security measures and coordinated government action to restore public confidence.