Youths in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, staged a protest on Monday over the escalating insecurity plaguing their communities.

The demonstrators decried the recurring incidents of kidnapping, killings, and terrorist attacks that have left residents living in fear.

Carrying placards and chanting protest songs, the aggrieved youths marched through the streets, accusing the government of neglecting its responsibility to protect lives and property.

They called for immediate and decisive action to halt the wave of violence that has disrupted normal life in the region.

A video clip from the protest captured scenes of the crowd expressing outrage and demanding justice, urging authorities to restore peace and security to their communities.

The irate youths set fire to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, office in Lafiagi and vandalised the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, smashing windows and damaging parts of the building.

“We have been crying and dying in silence,” a resident said in the video clip. “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.”

The protest, sources said, was triggered by accumulated anger over persistent attacks and lack of effective response from local and state authorities.

“The youths are exhausted, and there has been no concrete action from the government,” a source stated. “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. According to eyewitnesses, the NDLEA facility was set ablaze during the demonstration.

Lafiagi and neighbouring communities have experienced several abductions in recent weeks, with multiple residents still being held captive.

Families of the victims have reportedly paid substantial ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones.

News360 Nigeria reports that three Fulani women were abducted in the area on Sunday.