Jowizaza’s Billionaire Father, Reverend Sister Regain Freedom After N1.5bn Ransom Demand

Chief Sir Joseph Ebere Ezeokafor, the billionaire businessman and father of popular socialite Jowizaza, has regained his freedom alongside a Reverend Sister after spending several harrowing days in the custody of kidnappers in Anambra State. The Anambra State Police Command confirmed on Saturday, August 15, 2026, that the septuagenarian chairman of Jezco Group of Companies and the Reverend Sister, who were abducted by armed men at Ifite-Awka, Awka South Local Government Area, have been released and safely returned to their families.

Chief Ezeokafor was abducted in the early hours of Tuesday, August 4, 2026, while reportedly on his way to a prayer ground in Awka, Anambra State. He was travelling alone without any security personnel at the time of the incident, a practice his family described as a monthly routine, and his abduction had generated widespread concern across Anambra State and beyond, with security agencies coming under immense pressure to secure his release. The businessman was released late on Friday night and subsequently picked up by a family member near the boundary between Anambra and Enugu states, close to Ebenebe, near Awka. Described by a family member as an emerging location for kidnapping activities in the axis, the Ebenebe area has reportedly been where several victims have either been abducted or taken after being kidnapped elsewhere. Confirming the development, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command is currently taking necessary steps to establish the circumstances surrounding their release and obtain relevant information that will assist ongoing investigations and the identification of the perpetrators.

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According to multiple reports, the abductors initially demanded N700 million from Ezeokafor’s family before allegedly increasing the ransom to N1.5 billion during negotiations. The family had reportedly accepted the initial N700 million demand as part of efforts to secure the businessman’s release, but sensing that there might be more money, the kidnappers subsequently raised their demand to N1.5 billion, after which they stopped further engagement with the family until their release on Saturday. A close family source claimed the family paid N1.5 billion to secure his release, though police have not officially confirmed whether any ransom was paid. The source told Punch that the family paid N1.5 billion for his release, with the kidnappers initially demanding N700 million, a figure which the victim’s family had accepted as part of efforts to secure their father’s release, but sensing some feelings that there may be more money, the kidnappers subsequently raised their demand to N1.5 billion, after which they stopped further engagement with the family until their release on Saturday. Although a police source had earlier confirmed to journalists during a police function in Awka on Friday that the family had paid the sum of N1.5 billion and was expected to be released soon, the police spokesperson declined to disclose whether ransom was paid.

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The businessman’s abduction sparked tension within the Ezeokafor family, with his eldest daughter, Blessing, publicly blaming her younger brother, Eberechukwu (Jowizaza), for making their father a target through his flamboyant lifestyle on social media. In a series of Facebook posts, Blessing accused Jowizaza of flaunting wealth on social media despite the family’s alleged financial struggles, claiming that his public display of wealth may have attracted kidnappers to their father and influenced them to demand a higher ransom. In her posts, Blessing wrote that her brother was the cause of the madness, saying social media noise when they don’t have that money, and that he uses audio money to make hoodlums think the money is available, imagining 1 billion. She further claimed the family owes banks over N40 billion in debts and insisted that the wealth projected online was “audio money.”

The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, commended the safe return of the victims and directed intensified intelligence-led operations and a manhunt for those responsible for the abduction. The ongoing operation involves the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, the military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Agunechemba security operatives and other relevant security agencies, and the command appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in apprehending the perpetrators. Following his father’s release, Jowizaza took to Instagram on Saturday, August 15, 2026, to share his first public reaction with the caption “Forever grateful 🙏,” and the post, which gathered thousands of reactions within an hour, drew an outpouring of support from celebrities including Obi Cubana, Kiddwaya, and Cubana Chiefpriest, who flooded the comments with prayers and thanksgiving.

Jowizaza’s Billionaire Father, Reverend Sister Regain Freedom After N1.5bn Ransom Demand

[UPDATED] Osun Election: Police Arrest Lawmaker with 200 PVCs, 146 Suspected Electoral Mercenaries

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries in the early hours of Saturday in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, as part of security operations ahead of the governorship election. The lawmaker, who represents Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was arrested at his residence during a joint operation. Confirming the arrest, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation was carried out by the FBI-IRT as part of intensified measures to prevent activities capable of undermining the credibility of the poll. According to the police, no fewer than 200 Permanent Voter Cards were recovered from the residence during the raid.

In a video clip obtained after the arrest, Inaolaji was seen identifying himself and allegedly stating that he facilitated the movement of the 146 suspects into Osun State from neighbouring states to participate in the governorship election. The police said the allegation remains subject to further investigation. Ojelabi told journalists that the lawmaker was arrested in Ikire with about 146 suspected mercenaries in the early hours of Saturday, and the suspects were allegedly found camped at the lawmaker’s father’s residence, with preliminary investigations indicating they were brought into Osun State from Ondo State to participate in unlawful electoral activities.

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In a separate operation at Babs Hotel, located behind the State High Court in Ede, operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested 33 suspected electoral mercenaries comprising 30 males and three females. Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were brought into Osun from Ondo State for alleged unlawful electoral activities, while four voters’ cards were recovered from them as exhibits. The suspects reportedly told investigators that an unidentified politician recruited them and promised financial rewards in exchange for voting, and the police said further investigation is ongoing to establish the identities and roles of those behind the alleged operation.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful, free, fair and credible electoral process in Osun State, warning individuals and groups planning to engage in activities capable of undermining the election to desist, stressing that the police would deal decisively with electoral offences in accordance with the law. The Commissioner of Police in charge of election security had earlier disclosed that no fewer than 15,000 personnel had been deployed for the conduct of the poll, with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police overseeing the operation.

The arrests come as voting commenced across the 30 local government areas of the state amid heightened security. The election is being conducted under tight security following pre-election concerns over possible violence and intimidation, and stakeholders have continued to call on voters and political actors to maintain peace throughout voting and collation. Meanwhile, the APC deputy governorship candidate, Kayode Adereti, who voted at Ward 11, Unit 3, Ilare in Ife Central, described the voter turnout as impressive and commended the security arrangements and the operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System. “The turnout is impressive and the security is perfect. The BVAS is working well, and everyone is happy here,” Adereti said, urging eligible voters to come out and participate, saying the future of the state depended on active citizen participation, and appealing to political parties and supporters to remain peaceful and allow voters to freely choose the next governor.

[UPDATED] Osun Election: Police Arrest Lawmaker with 200 PVCs, 146 Suspected Electoral Mercenaries