Tension has gripped the Lafiagi community in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State following the abduction of a prominent agro-chemical dealer, widely known as Alhaji Chemical.
He was reportedly taken from his home in the Taiwo area of the town around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday by gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits. The attackers, said to have arrived on motorcycles, overpowered local vigilantes with heavy gunfire before abducting the businessman.
Sources in the community believe the operation was targeted and well-planned, given the victim’s prominence and the precision of the attack. The development has sparked fresh anxiety in Lafiagi, where residents say cases of kidnapping have become increasingly frequent.
In response to the latest incident, angry residents staged protests on Monday, blocking roads and demanding urgent government intervention. Protesters cited the recent abduction of a young man operating a Point of Sale (POS) business as further evidence of growing insecurity in the area.
“The situation is getting out of hand,” one resident said during the protest. “We can’t sleep with our eyes closed anymore. People are being taken almost weekly now.”
Residents are urging security agencies to intensify patrols, track down the kidnappers, and ensure the safe return of those abducted.
