Youths Set NDLEA Office Ablaze in Kwara Over Insecurity, Vehicles Destroyed
Angry youths in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, have torched an office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and destroyed several vehicles in a protest triggered by escalating cases of kidnappings and bandit attacks in the area.
The violent demonstration took place on the morning of Monday, June 30, 2025.
Reports indicate that the protest was also directed at the Emir of Lafiagi, Mohammed Kawu Kudu, who is said to be out of town. Viral images shared on social media show the NDLEA building in flames and multiple vehicles vandalized in front of the premises.
The unrest was sparked by a recent series of abductions, which have left residents fearful and angry. On Sunday, a well-known agrochemical dealer popularly known as Alhaji Chemical was kidnapped from his home.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the assailants, believed to be bandits, invaded the community around 1 a.m. and launched an assault on the victim’s residence on Taiwo Road in Lafiagi. Local hunters reportedly attempted to resist the attack, leading to a gun battle, but the bandits, who were heavily armed, overpowered them and took the businessman away.
In a related development, suspected bandits also attacked Kokodo village — a border settlement between Edu and Patigi LGAs — around midnight on Monday, barely two hours after the Lafiagi attack. Two Hausa men were abducted from their homes, and a teenage girl narrowly escaped. A villager who raised an alarm during the invasion was shot, sources told The Informant247.
“The attackers came with sophisticated weapons and kidnapped two men. A girl managed to escape, but one man who tried to alert others was shot,” a local resident said.
The wave of abductions has sparked widespread outrage, with many residents accusing the Emir of failing in his leadership role. Protesters lamented what they called the Emir’s silence and inaction, which they believe has emboldened the criminals and left the community vulnerable.
As of the time of this report, the Kwara State Police Command has not issued an official statement regarding the incidents.
