Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, Jowizaza’s Billionaire Father, Reportedly Kidnapped in Anambra

Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, Jowizaza’s Billionaire Father, Reportedly Kidnapped in Anambra

Jezco Oil founder abducted while praying alone on Awka mountain; Ekwulobia community suspends New Yam Festival for first time in its history

Billionaire businessman and founder of Jezco Oil and Jezco Group, Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, has been reportedly abducted in Awka, Anambra State, after allegedly going alone to a mountain for overnight prayers. Ezeokafor, who is also the father of popular Nigerian social media personality Jowizaza, was reportedly kidnapped last week at Ifite Awka. The alleged abduction was disclosed in a Facebook post on Sunday by lawyer Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, who claimed that the businessman had gone to the mountain without his security aides and police personnel who usually accompanied him. According to Iwuchukwu, unidentified gunmen allegedly seized Ezeokafor while he was praying and took him to an undisclosed location. “Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, a Nigerian billionaire businessman, the founder of Jezco Oil and the Jezco Group, who is also the father of Nigerian Instagram celebrity Jowizaza, was reportedly kidnapped last week from a bush in Awka, in Anambra State,” Iwuchukwu wrote. Iwuchukwu alleged that Ezeokafor had gone to the mountain “alone to pray and seek the face of God” without his security details and police escorts, despite usually moving with them. He further claimed that the businessman was abducted during the prayer session and taken to an unknown destination. Reports indicate that Ezeokafor had made it a regular practice to seek spiritual solitude at the mountain location for overnight prayers.

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The reported incident has thrown Ekwulobia, Ezeokafor’s hometown in Aguata Local Government Area, into anxiety and mourning, with residents reportedly expressing deep concern over his disappearance. Iwuchukwu described Ezeokafor as the community’s wealthiest man and said the reported abduction had disrupted preparations for its annual New Yam Festival. According to a community source, the traditional ruler of Ekwulobia, His Royal Majesty Igwe Emmanuel Chukwukadibia Onyeneke, has officially suspended the Ekwulobia New Yam Festival, which had been scheduled for September 4, 2026. “The Igwe said the community of Ekwulobia cannot celebrate while their son remains in the custody of the kidnappers,” the source told Daily Post. According to Iwuchukwu, the postponement is unprecedented, as the community had never previously suspended the festival in its history. The decision reflects the seriousness with which the community is treating Ezeokafor’s reported abduction. The New Yam Festival is one of the major cultural events celebrated across Igboland, marking the beginning of the harvest of new yam.

The circumstances surrounding Ezeokafor’s reported abduction, his current whereabouts, and the identity of those allegedly responsible remain unclear. A source told Daily Post that Ezeokafor was allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday evening when he stepped out of his house without his security men. It is also unclear whether the kidnappers have established contact with Ezeokafor’s family or whether a ransom has been demanded. As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the Anambra State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, or Ezeokafor’s family confirming the incident. The reported abduction comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over kidnapping and other forms of criminal activity in parts of Anambra State and the wider South-East region, where wealthy individuals, business owners, and traditional rulers have increasingly been targeted for ransom.

Sir Joseph Ezeokafor is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jezco Oil and the Jezco Group of Companies, a conglomerate with a prominent presence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. He is widely respected as one of the prominent businessmen from Ekwulobia, with his business interests spanning multiple sectors of the economy. His son, Jowizaza, has gained significant public attention on social media for his lavish lifestyle and high-profile appearances, making the reported abduction of his father a matter of widespread public interest across Nigeria. The news has sparked concern on social media and within business circles.

Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, Jowizaza’s Billionaire Father, Reportedly Kidnapped in Anambra