metro
Kidnappers Double Ransom for Jowizaza’s Father to N1.5bn, Cut Communication with Family
Kidnappers Double Ransom for Jowizaza’s Father to N1.5bn, Cut Communication with Family
The abductors of Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, Chairman of Jezco Group and father of socialite Jowizaza, have reportedly increased their ransom demand from ₦700 million to ₦1.5 billion, while also cutting off communication with his distraught family. The 74-year-old billionaire businessman was abducted in the early hours of Tuesday, August 5, 2026, from a Catholic prayer ground in Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, where he had gone for his annual spiritual retreat. According to reports, Ezeokafor had deliberately left his security personnel behind—a practice he maintained out of personal conviction that a holy prayer ground should not be surrounded by bodyguards. This decision reportedly made him vulnerable to the kidnappers, who allegedly swooped in while he was in the middle of prayers and took him to an unknown destination. The abduction has since plunged his family into a desperate search for answers, while the community of Ekwulobia has been thrown into mourning over the fate of their most illustrious son.
A source close to the family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the abductors initially demanded ₦700 million after establishing contact with the family following the abduction. The family reportedly accepted the initial demand as part of efforts to secure Ezeokafor’s swift release, hoping that compliance would lead to his safe return. However, the kidnappers later escalated their demand to ₦1.5 billion, throwing negotiations into disarray and leaving the family scrambling to respond to the sudden increase. The situation has taken an even more troubling turn as the abductors have reportedly stopped communicating with the family altogether, leaving relatives unable to confirm the businessman’s safety or negotiate terms for his release. “The family has been willing to negotiate and do whatever is necessary to secure his release, but the kidnappers have suddenly stopped communicating,” a source close to the family disclosed, adding that efforts to re-establish contact have so far proved unsuccessful. The development has reportedly left the family in a difficult position, as attempts to restore communication with the abductors have not yielded results, and they remain in the dark about the fate of their patriarch.
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The abduction has thrown Ezeokafor’s hometown of Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area into deep mourning, with residents expressing shock and grief over the incident. Lawyer Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, who first made the abduction public in a Facebook post, described Ezeokafor as the richest man from the community, noting that his influence and philanthropy had endeared him to many. In a significant show of solidarity, the community reportedly postponed its annual New Yam Festival—a celebration that had never been delayed before—because members felt it would be inappropriate to celebrate while their “illustrious son” remained in captivity. The decision to postpone the festival reflects the deep sense of loss and anxiety that has gripped the community, with residents hoping and praying for the safe return of the businessman who had given so much to the town.
As of Thursday, August 13, 2026, one week after the abduction, neither the Anambra State Government nor the State Police Command has issued an official statement on the incident, leaving the public and the family in a state of uncertainty. The Anambra State Police Command has also not publicly commented on the businessman’s abduction or efforts to secure his release, despite the growing public concern. Ezeokafor’s whereabouts remain unknown as his family continues efforts to secure his release amid the reported ransom escalation and communication breakdown, and the lack of official communication from authorities has only deepened the family’s anxiety and frustration.
Born on April 30, 1952, in Ekwulobia, Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor is a self-made billionaire who founded Jezco in 1980, obtaining a full oil service and marketing license by 1988. He later expanded into manufacturing with a lubricant factory, plastic production plant, and fuel dispenser assembly line, building a business empire that has made him one of the most prominent businessmen in the Southeast. The business mogul, who lost both parents at a young age, is also known for his philanthropy, including donating ₦20 million to the Anambra State government during the COVID-19 crisis and distributing food items worth millions to his community. His first son, Joseph Ezeokafor Jr., popularly known as Jowizaza, now serves as Chief Executive Officer of the company, carrying on his father’s legacy. The family has appealed to the public not to spread unverified information about his release, stressing that they remain in the dark as they await any word on the safety and whereabouts of their patriarch, while continuing to pray for his safe return.
Kidnappers Double Ransom for Jowizaza’s Father to N1.5bn, Cut Communication with Family
metro
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
EDJEKOTA-OGOR, DELTA STATE — A schoolboy identified as Marvellous has reportedly escaped a suspected kidnapping attempt after a commercial motorcycle rider allegedly tried to lure him away by claiming that his father had sent him.
The incident occurred in Edjekota-Ogor community in Delta State, where the unidentified motorcycle rider reportedly approached the boy and attempted to gain his confidence by mentioning his father’s name.
The suspect allegedly told Marvellous that his father had instructed him to pick him up, apparently hoping to deceive the young boy into following him.
However, Marvellous reportedly became suspicious of the rider’s claim and refused to go with him, thereby foiling what could have been an abduction.
Following the incident, community leaders reportedly intervened to ensure the boy’s safety and facilitate his return to his family.
The President-General of Edjekota-Ogor community subsequently directed the community’s Secretary-General to take necessary steps to protect the boy and reunite him with his relatives.
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Acting on the directive, the Secretary-General reportedly contacted members of Marvellous’s family and successfully ensured that he was returned safely to his relieved parents.
The incident has drawn attention to the need for increased vigilance among parents, guardians and community members over the safety of children.
Parents have been urged to educate their children never to follow anyone, including familiar-looking strangers, without first confirming such arrangements directly with them.
Children should also be taught not to rely solely on someone mentioning their parents’ names as proof of familiarity or authority.
The identity and whereabouts of the suspected motorcycle rider were not disclosed in the account of the incident.
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
metro
Tragedy in Benue: Four Dead, 14 Hospitalised After Consuming Suspected Poisonous Herbal Mixture
At least four persons have died, while 14 others have been hospitalised after allegedly consuming a suspected poisonous herbal mixture in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims, residents of the Igede community, reportedly bought the herbal preparations from three men during the Ihiejwo market day in Oju township last weekend.
The incident sparked panic in the community on Monday, November 2, after several residents who had consumed the preparations reportedly began developing similar symptoms.
According to eyewitness accounts, the first victim died on Tuesday morning, while the second died in the early hours of Wednesday. Two additional victims reportedly died on November 4.
Fourteen other persons were said to have been taken to different hospitals for medical attention, with some reportedly in critical condition.
The suspected herbal mixture sellers were identified as Alhaji Sule Mai Magani, Bello Mohamed and Musa Kala.
Following the incident, members of the Igede Youth Council, working with the Oju Local Government Area Township Youth leadership, reportedly apprehended the three men and handed them over to the police.
The suspects were subsequently transferred from the Oju Divisional Police Headquarters to the Benue State Police Command in Makurdi for further investigation.
President of the Igede Youth Council, Comrade John-Frank Ozzidi, called on the Benue State Government to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
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Ozzidi commended members of the community for resisting the temptation to take the law into their own hands, despite the anger generated by the deaths.
He said the decision to hand over the suspects to the police demonstrated the community’s confidence in the ability of security agencies and the government to ensure justice.
The youth leader also appealed to political officeholders from the area to monitor the investigation and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the suspected poisoning were fully established.
Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Jackson Ominyi, confirmed the incident but said he was initially unable to establish the exact number of fatalities.
He disclosed that the local government had mobilised its security and health officials to manage the situation and ensure that affected residents received medical attention.
Ominyi also said the suspected sellers had been arrested and transferred to the police headquarters in Makurdi.
Meanwhile, the incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of unregulated herbal preparations sold in local markets and the need for stronger monitoring of products consumed by members of the public.
The authorities are expected to establish the actual substances contained in the preparations and determine whether they were responsible for the deaths and illnesses.
The police investigation is also expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the sale and consumption of the suspected poisonous mixture.
Tragedy in Benue: Four Dead, 14 Hospitalised After Consuming Suspected Poisonous Herbal Mixture
metro
CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu
CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu
LAGOS — A fresh controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic credentials at Chicago State University (CSU) has taken an unexpected turn, following explosive claims made by a former lecturer at the institution, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse.
Pearse, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and governorship aspirant, publicly accused President Tinubu of never attending CSU, describing the Nigerian leader in harsh terms during a broadcast interview on News Central Television. Pearse claimed that as a former lecturer at CSU, he had direct knowledge of the institution’s records and served as the director of the program Tinubu reportedly attended.
However, Pearse’s allegations have sparked fierce backlash after key details of his timeline emerged, leading political analysts and presidential aides to conclude that the former lecturer effectively indicted himself.
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The Discrepancy in Timelines
During his broadcast appearance, Dr. Pearse disclosed that he served as a lecturer and program director at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990.
Official records previously confirmed by Chicago State University establish that President Bola Tinubu attended the university between 1977 and 1979, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in June 1979.
The six-year gap between Tinubu’s graduation in 1979 and Pearse’s arrival at the university in 1985 has drawn significant scrutiny. Critics point out that Pearse was not present at CSU during the years Tinubu studied there, undermining his claim of personal first-hand knowledge of student enrollments during the late 1970s.
Presidency and Allies Respond
Reacting to the allegations, aides to President Tinubu and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) cited major flaws in Pearse’s narrative.
Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, highlighted the timeline mismatch, noting that a lecturer who joined CSU six years after a student had already graduated could not authoritatively claim personal knowledge of that student’s presence on campus.
“Facts are always scary to con-artists,” Olusegun noted, emphasizing that individual faculty members do not possess administrative ownership of an entire university’s historical database across different decades.
Furthermore, APC chieftains have demanded that Pearse retract his statement or face legal action for defamation, describing the allegations as politically motivated rhetoric aimed at heating up the polity ahead of future elections.
While certificate controversies have repeatedly resurfaced in public debate, legal investigations and past disclosures by Chicago State University have maintained that President Tinubu was indeed a registered student who completed his degree at the institution in 1979.
As public debate continues over the incident, Pearse’s attempt to present himself as the ultimate authority on the matter has instead turned the spotlight back onto his own timeline, leaving him to address the glaring inconsistencies in his claims.
For further context and analysis regarding public statements and legal responses to President Tinubu’s academic record controversies, you can watch Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse’s statement on Chicago State University records, which details the allegations and political reactions surrounding the issue.
CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu
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