...As police begin manhunt for abductors

Socialite Jowizaza’s billionaire father, Joseph Ezeokafor who was kidnapped at Ifite-Awka, a few days ago has been freed by his abductors and returned home safely.

Also freed and safe alongside Ezeokafor was a Rev. Sister. The police confirmed that both victims have been freed and returned home safely on August 15, 2026.
The abductors had in few days after the abduction remained incommunicado, but when they spoke, they demanded for a payment of N700 million ransom for the victim’s release.

They followed it up with a jerk-up of the ransom to the tune of N1.5 billion.

In a swift reaction to the incremental ransom, the first daughter of the Oil magnate. Blessing Ezeokafor blamed her younger brother, Eberechukelwu popularly called Jowizaza for the kicked ransom on account of what she described as his flamboyant lifestyle stunts displayed on social media.

Blessing alleged: “Jowizaza’s flamboyant lifestyle and social media posturing of abundant wealth influenced kidnappers to abduct our father on a wrong notion of exaggerated wealth.

According to her, the initial ransom negotiation limited it to N700 million, but the wrong notion of available wealth made the kidnappers to raise the figure to N1.5 billion.

She also alleged that her brother had initially agreed to pay N700 million to secure their father’s release, claiming the development contributed to an increase in the ransom demand by the captors.

Blessing queried where such a huge sum could be got, whereas, as she hinted, her younger, Jowizaza couldn’t readily boast of available N100 million in cash.

“Some idiots are saying I should not talk about what I know. So you want those kidnappers to think we have money and refused to give them and kill him there? I will now become fatherless,” she said.

“Why Jowizaza my brother. You are the cause of this madness. Social media noise, when we don’t have that money. You use audio money to make hoodlums think the money is available.”

Blessing further claimed that the family has been in huge debt totaling N40 billion.

“Imagine, N1 billion? If anything happens to my dad, I will hold you responsible. Making noise, when we are owing bank N40 billion. And these people think the money is there, see what your madness exposing has done to us,” she alleged.

“Fake life claiming what we don’t have. You are owing banks FCMB N40 billion, no hope to pay, you are owing Union Bank, you are struggling, even American company I introduced you guys Feedco, yet you keep making noise. Now your madness has made people think we have money,” she wrote.

Before the eventual freedom from captivity, Blessing had pleaded with the abductors to reconsider their ransom expectations, stressing that the family wasn’t well off as portrayed on social media.

“Kidnappers they don’t have money, it is audio money, please leave my dad alone. Please release him, they are swimming in debt,” she wrote.

She placed premium on her father’s safety, especially as it has to do with his required regular medication.

“At this point, I need to talk so they can be talking reasonably about what we can provide. Dad needs his medication and I don’t want anything to happen to my dad,” Blessing added.

In a swift press statement confirming the freedom and safe return made available to newsmen in Awka. Anambra State capital, yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwuu Ikenga stated: “The Command confirms that today, 15th August 2026, Chief J. J. Ezeokafor and a Rev. Sister, who were earlier abducted by armed criminals at Ifite-Awka, have been released and have safely returned,” the statement said.

The police, according to the statement noted that the Command was working to establish the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release.

The statement quoted the State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji as commending the safe return of the victims and ordered the intensification of intelligence-led operations to track down and arrest the perpetrators.

According to the statement: “The manhunt was being carried out by a joint task force comprising the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Agunechemba security operatives and other relevant security agencies.

While appreciating members of the public for their support and cooperation during the period, it further urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in apprehending those responsible for the abduction.