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

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