AWKA — Chief Sir Joseph Ebere Ezeokafor, the founder and chairman of Jezco Group of Companies and father of prominent social media personality Jowi Zaza, has regained his freedom after days in captivity following his abduction in Anambra State.
As reported by 247ureports.com, the septuagenarian businessman was seized in the early hours of Tuesday while on his way to a prayer ground at Ifite Awka. His sudden disappearance sparked widespread concern across the state and generated public calls from civil society groups and regional stakeholders for immediate security intervention.
During his captivity, the abductors established contact with the family, initially demanding a ransom of ₦700 million before unilaterally escalating the demand to ₦1.5 billion, as previously documented by Arise News and Vanguard.
Specific details regarding the circumstances of his release—including whether a ransom was paid or the precise location where he was freed—have not been disclosed by security agencies or family representatives as of Saturday morning.
The news of Chief Ezeokafor’s release has brought immense relief to his family, business associates, and the wider Anambra business community. He remains one of Eastern Nigeria’s most prominent industrial leaders, having built Jezco Oil and Lubricants since its establishment in 1980 into a multi-sector conglomerate spanning manufacturing and commercial enterprises.
