By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The death of a Labour Party organiser, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuma Ekwueme, has raised fresh concerns over alleged political violence in Lagos, following claims that he was abducted and held captive for several months before he was killed.
Ekwueme, 44, was recently laid to rest after his death was confirmed by family members and associates, months after he reportedly disappeared under controversial circumstances.
Sources familiar with the incident alleged that Ekwueme was abducted by suspected political thugs who had been searching for another Labour Party chieftain, Mr. Ezeji Ekene Joseph, a grassroots mobiliser in Iba, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The sources claimed that Joseph became a target after emerging as a prominent political figure in the constituency following the 2023 general elections, where he reportedly played a significant role in mobilising support for the Labour Party.
According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, repeated attempts were allegedly made on Joseph’s life, forcing him to flee Lagos for safety.
It was gathered that during one of the attacks, armed men reportedly invaded his residence, assaulted several occupants and demanded information on his whereabouts. Friends and supporters were also allegedly threatened with further attacks should they fail to produce him.
Unable to locate Joseph, the assailants were said to have abducted Ekwueme, whom they believed could provide information on his associate’s whereabouts.
The source alleged that Ekwueme remained in captivity for several months before he was eventually killed towards the end of 2025.
Further findings indicated that the search for Joseph allegedly extended to his ancestral community, where heavily armed men reportedly stormed the village in an attempt to apprehend him.
Residents told investigators that some youths confronted the armed men but were overwhelmed after several sustained injuries during the encounter.
Joseph’s whereabouts remain unknown, with conflicting accounts suggesting that he may still be in hiding, while others fear he may have been killed.
The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of political actors and the growing threat of politically motivated violence as activities ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to gather momentum.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Lagos State Police Command nor any other security agency had issued an official statement on the alleged abduction and killing with no arrests announced in connection with the incident.
Similarly, officials of the Labour Party had yet to publicly comment on the development.