Youths Set NDLEA Office Ablaze, Vandalize Emir’s Palace in Kwara Over Worsening Insecurity

A wave of public anger over escalating insecurity and rampant kidnappings culminated in violent protests on Monday, June 30, 2025, in Lafiagi, headquarters of Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State. Irate youths set ablaze the office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and vandalized parts of the Emir of Lafiagi’s palace, decrying the incessant abductions plaguing their communities.

The unrest, predominantly involving frustrated youths, was reportedly triggered by a series of recent abductions. Key among these was the kidnapping of Alhaji Chemical, a prominent agro-chemical dealer, from his home early Sunday morning. This was quickly followed by the abduction of a popular Point-of-Sale (POS) agent, identified as Yman, on Sunday night, and two Hausa men from Kokodo village on Monday morning.

Residents, many of whom joined the protests, expressed profound fear and exasperation over what they described as a daily threat to their lives. “We have been crying and dying in silence. People are being kidnapped every week. 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,” one resident lamented in a viral video.

The protesters, chanting solidarity songs and waving placards demanding urgent government intervention, initially took to the streets to block roads and burn tyres. The demonstration then escalated, leading to the torching of the NDLEA office in Lafiagi. Reports indicate that four suspects held in NDLEA custody were freed during the incident. Parts of the Emir’s palace were also vandalized, with windows smashed and sections of the building damaged.

Confirming the incident, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, stated that the protest was unfortunately hijacked by “miscreants” who carried out the acts of vandalism and arson. He revealed that he had visited Lafiagi on Monday alongside the Brigade Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, to assess the situation and assure the community of intensified security efforts.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the attack on their office, explaining that the facility, located near the Emir’s palace, was likely “mistakenly targeted” by the protesters. He added that an operational vehicle was also affected, and NDLEA personnel exercised restraint to prevent further escalation.

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Governor, Alhaji Muideen Aliyu, condemned the acts, labeling them as “sheer criminality.” While confirming the restoration of normalcy by combined security forces, he stated that the initial protest was partly linked to recent NDLEA arrests of suspected drug dealers, with protesters allegedly targeting the office and the Emir’s palace due to perceived inaction against such arrests. He clarified that no lives were lost during the Monday morning incident.

The widespread outrage in Lafiagi underscores the dire security situation in Kwara North, where communities continue to grapple with a surge in kidnappings and banditry, with many victims still in captivity or released only after substantial ransoms.