Fear has gripped residents of Lafiagi in Edu Local Government Area following the abduction of a popular agro-chemical dealer, widely known as Alhaji Chemical, in the early hours of Sunday.
The businessman was reportedly kidnapped around 1:00 a.m. from his home in the Taiwo area of Lafiagi by heavily armed men suspected to be Fulani bandits.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers stormed the community on motorcycles and overpowered the local vigilantes with superior firepower before seizing their target and disappearing into the night.
Sources close to the victim said the nature of the attack indicated a well-planned and targeted operation, fueling concerns that Alhaji Chemical was deliberately singled out.
“The way they came and headed straight for his house shows it was not a random attack,” a community member who requested anonymity said.
The incident has heightened anxiety in the area, as residents expressed frustration over the rising spate of insecurity in the region. Many have issued urgent calls to security agencies to rescue the businessman and intensify patrols to prevent further kidnappings.
Attempts to get an official response from the Kwara State Police Command proved unsuccessful, as calls to the mobile line of the Command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, went unanswered as of press time.
Meanwhile, community leaders and local groups have begun mobilizing support in hopes of facilitating Alhaji Chemical’s safe return, while urging government intervention to restore calm in the troubled area.
