Panic gripped the Lafiagi community in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State on Sunday morning after a well-known agro-chemical dealer, popularly referred to as Alhaji Chemical, was abducted by unknown gunmen.
The victim was reportedly kidnapped from his residence in the Taiwo area of the town around 1:00 a.m. by heavily armed men suspected to be Fulani bandits.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the attackers, who arrived on motorcycles, overpowered the local vigilantes guarding the area with superior firepower before whisking Alhaji Chemical away to an unknown destination.
Sources within the community confirmed that the assailants appeared to have specifically targeted the businessman, raising concerns that the operation was carefully planned.
The incident has heightened fears among residents over the worsening security situation in Lafiagi and its environs.
Many have called on security agencies to launch a manhunt for the kidnappers and intensify efforts to secure the safe release of Alhaji Chemical.
Residents are calling on security agencies to act swiftly to secure Alhaji Chemical’s safe release and to stem the growing tide of abductions that have continued to unsettle the area.
As of the time of filing this report, attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, for comments on the abduction were unsuccessful, as calls to her mobile line went unanswered.
