On Monday, protesters in Lafiagi, which is located in the Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, took to the streets to voice their displeasure with what they saw as an increase in the level of unrest in their communities, which included numerous instances of terrorism, kidnapping, and murder.
The protesters, who were mostly young people from the area, expressed their dissatisfaction with what they described as the government's lack of response to the ongoing violence. They were shown in a video waving signs and chanting songs of solidarity to demand immediate action to stop the killings and kidnappings.
The enraged youths set fire to the office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, or NDLEA, in Lafiagi. They also vandalized the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, breaking windows and causing damage to other parts of the building. In the video, a resident said, "We have been crying and dying in silence." Every week, people are being kidnapped.
We don’t sleep with both eyes closed anymore, and nobody, neither the governor, the chairman, nor even the Emir, is doing anything about it.”
According to sources, the protest was sparked by growing resentment at the persistent attacks and the lack of an effective response from state and local authorities.
The youths are exhausted, and the government has not taken any concrete action," stated a source. “The frequency of attacks has increased, which is why the protest erupted today.”
The unrest reportedly escalated as protesters moved toward key government buildings, including security agency offices.
Witnesses claim that the NDLEA facility caught fire during the demonstration. In the past few weeks, there have been a number of kidnappings in Lafiagi and nearby communities, and a number of residents are still being held captive.
According to reports, hefty ransoms have been paid by the victims' families in order to secure their loved ones' release. The Daily Post reports that on Sunday, three Fulani women were taken from the area.
Tags
HAPPENING NOW...